plate no. 9899

St. Charles of Bohemia visits the plague patients

oilBaroquereligious paintingfiguresplaguereligious sceneinterioraltararchitecture

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and rendering complex scenes with multiple subjects. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through value and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 60 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Focus on the central figures, refining their forms and adding details.
step 04
Develop the background elements, paying attention to perspective and spatial relationships.
step 05
Gradually build up the layers of paint, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing.
step 07
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect the surface and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white, with small amounts of red or yellow ochre for warmth. Create shadows by adding black or ultramarine blue to the base colors.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·figure drawing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Overworking the paint and losing freshness.
→Inaccurate proportions of figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife