plate no. 1717
St. Anthony Visiting St. Paul the Hermit in the Desert (left wing of the Isenheim Altar)
Matthias Grünewald, 1516
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex textures like foliage and fabric, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth in a landscape. It will also help with figure drawing and portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and major landscape elements.
- step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the figures, focusing on the faces and hands.
- step 05
Develop the textures of the foliage and fabric, using a variety of brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows, creating a sense of depth and volume.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the bird and small plants.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of thinned paint to create subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, resulting in a flat landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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