plate no. 4535

St. Jerome in His Study

oil, woodEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfigureinteriorarchitecturebooksstudypeacock

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural perspective and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in depicting realistic textures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed line drawing, paying close attention to perspective and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, creating highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the details of the architecture, including the arches, columns, and windows.
step 05
Paint the figure of St. Jerome, paying attention to the folds of his robe and the expression on his face.
step 06
Add the details of the books, shelves, and other objects in the study.
step 07
Paint the animals, including the peacock and the partridge.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ochre · burnt umber · red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the warm tones by mixing ochre, burnt umber, and small amounts of red. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue to create the darker shadows and cool tones in the background.

techniques