plate no. 7885

St. John Gualbert

temperaProto Renaissancereligious paintingfigurereligiousbookrobehalogold background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, layering colors to create depth, and understanding the use of gold leaf or imitation gold in art. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of form with subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the surface with gesso and let it dry completely.
step 02
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the book.
step 03
Apply a thin layer of gold paint or imitation gold leaf to the background, following the arched shape.
step 04
Block in the main colors of the robe, face, and book with thin washes of tempera paint.
step 05
Begin layering colors to build up the form of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the face, hands, and book, using small brushes and fine lines.
step 07
Paint the details in the arched frame.
step 08
Apply a final layer of varnish to protect the painting.

color palette

primary · gold · brown · red · white

secondary · blue · grey

Mix browns from burnt umber and yellow ochre. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use thin washes of color to build up the layers.

techniques