plate no. 0594

St. Jerome penitente

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguremalebeardreligiousclothdark background

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in dramatic lighting (chiaroscuro) and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of hair and fabric with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark underpainting (burnt umber or black).
step 02
Lightly sketch the figure's pose and proportions, focusing on the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color, establishing the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, layering highlights and shadows to create form and volume.
step 05
Pay close attention to the transitions between light and shadow, blending carefully to create smooth gradations.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the character's expression.
step 07
Paint the hair and beard, using loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and movement.
step 08
Finally, add the red cloth and the staff, paying attention to the way they drape and fold.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Dark shadows are created with umber and black. The red cloth is a mix of cadmium red and burnt umber to darken it.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Not capturing the texture of the hair and beard.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags