plate no. 8464

St. Francis

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigureskullrobefoliagereligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create form using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and the human figure.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, skull, background elements.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest areas with thin washes of paint.
step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones, focusing on the form of the figure and skull.
step 04
Refine the details of the face and hands, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 05
Add texture to the robe and background using dry brush techniques.
step 06
Soften edges where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights to enhance the sense of light.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance of values and adjust as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white. Add small amounts of raw umber or burnt umber to warm or cool the grays as needed.

techniques