plate no. 6399

St Bavo

oilNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigurearmorswordlandscapebirdbuilding

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering metallic surfaces, and creating depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in depicting textures like chainmail and feathers.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, bird, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the figure, using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Start building up the values and details in the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Render the armor, focusing on capturing the reflective qualities of the metal.
step 05
Paint the bird, paying attention to the details of the feathers.
step 06
Develop the background landscape, creating depth through atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add details such as the chainmail, crown, and fabric.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious image.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian · ultramarine blue

Achieve the metallic sheen of the armor by layering thin glazes of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and ivory black. Mix greens by combining viridian with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue.

techniques