plate no. 1231

St. Francis in Ecstasy

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguretreeslandscapeskymountainsreligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting complex foliage and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark umber wash.
step 02
Sketch the main compositional elements: figure, trees, mountains, and light source.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the painting, focusing on the foreground and tree trunks.
step 04
Establish the light source and begin building up the highlights in the sky and foliage.
step 05
Develop the mid-tones, blending the darks and lights to create form.
step 06
Add details to the figure, paying attention to the drapery and facial features.
step 07
Refine the foliage and add texture using dry brush techniques.
step 08
Glaze over areas to unify the colors and create atmospheric depth.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw sienna

Achieve the dark, earthy tones by mixing umbers with small amounts of blue. Use yellow ochre and white to create the highlights in the sky and foliage. Glaze with thin washes of umber to create depth.

techniques