plate no. 5905

St. Francis of Assisi

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfigureskullreligiousportraitrobebeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model forms using light and shadow. It also offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the skull.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure with mid-tone browns and grays.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights on the face, hands, and skull, using lighter shades of brown and yellow.
step 05
Refine the shadows, paying attention to the subtle gradations of tone.
step 06
Add details to the robe, face, and skull, such as wrinkles, folds, and bone structure.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth of the shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, raw umber, and ivory black. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones and skull. Titanium white is used to create highlights.

techniques