plate no. 2876
St. Jerome in the Desert
Lorenzo Lotto, 1509
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting the human figure in a landscape setting and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of St. Jerome and the landscape elements.
- step 02
Establish the background sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the rocks and trees, paying attention to their forms and values.
- step 04
Begin to define the figure of St. Jerome, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomy.
- step 05
Develop the details of the foreground, including the ground, books, and lion.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and ochre for the rocks and landscape. Use glazes of ultramarine blue to create atmospheric perspective in the distance. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber to achieve the color of the drapery.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall unity of the painting.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grain canvas will provide a good surface for the painting.
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