plate no. 1629

St. Francis of Assisi

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurereligiousskullcrucifixrobebeard

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering realistic skin tones, and creating depth through chiaroscuro. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fabric and bone.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure, skull, and crucifix.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of blue, gradually darkening towards the edges.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's robe, skin, and skull.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create form and volume in the face and hands.
step 05
Add details to the robe, including folds, tears, and shadows.
step 06
Carefully render the skull, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 07
Paint the crucifix and the figure on it, focusing on anatomical accuracy.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white, with small amounts of cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson for warmth. Darken shadows with burnt umber and ivory black. Create the background blue by mixing ultramarine blue and white, adjusting the value as needed.

techniques