plate no. 8189

St. Bernard and the Virgin

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguresreligiousinteriorarchitecturewindowrobes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting realistic folds and drapery, as well as understanding how light interacts with different surfaces and textures. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a believable space.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures, the altar, and the architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the dark background using thin washes of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main colors for the figures: red for the Virgin's robe and the kneeling monk, white for St. Bernard's habit, and the red/brown of the altar.
step 04
Start building up the values in the figures, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Pay close attention to the drapery of the robes, using subtle variations in tone to suggest folds and movement.
step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and other features, using small brushes and careful observation.
step 07
Refine the architectural elements, including the window and the steps, paying attention to perspective and proportion.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to create the off-white tones of the robes. Use ultramarine blue and cadmium red to create the darker blues and reds. Mix raw umber and burnt sienna for the darker browns of the background.

techniques