plate no. 8636

St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigureslandscapereligionrockscityscapecrucifix

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and drapery, as well as creating depth and atmosphere in a landscape using subtle color variations and glazing techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the major landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the underpainting with a thin wash of burnt umber, defining the light and shadow areas.
step 03
Begin layering in the local colors of the figures' robes, using a limited palette of browns and grays.
step 04
Develop the landscape, starting with the background and working towards the foreground, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add details to the figures, including the facial features, hands, and the folds of the drapery.
step 06
Paint the crucifix and the figure of Christ, focusing on accurate anatomy and expressive details.
step 07
Refine the details of the rocks and vegetation, adding highlights and shadows to create texture and depth.
step 08
Apply glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of depth and luminosity.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · viridian

Achieve the muted browns and grays by mixing burnt umber and raw umber with white and black. Use small amounts of yellow ochre, red, blue and green to subtly shift the color temperature.

techniques