plate no. 9025

St. John Taking Leave of his Parents

frescoEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfigureslandscapemountainsarchitecturereligious scenestone

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and creating atmospheric perspective to depict depth. It also provides practice in using a limited palette to achieve harmonious color relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Begin refining the figures, paying attention to anatomical proportions and drapery folds.
step 04
Develop the landscape, focusing on creating depth through atmospheric perspective and varying the tones of the rocks and mountains.
step 05
Add details to the architecture and other elements, such as the steps and archway.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create a sense of volume and form.
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 subtle luminosity.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and white. Use burnt sienna for the warmer hues of the figures' robes. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or ivory black to adjust the color temperature.

techniques