plate no. 5221

St. John the Evangelist and the Poisoned Cup

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurereligiouscupdraperyhalosnake

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, drapery rendering, and creating a sense of depth through value and color. It also provides practice in capturing realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the proportions of the figure and the placement of the cup.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of burnt umber and black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the white robe, and the pink drapery.
step 04
Begin building up the values in the face, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the drapery, paying attention to how the light falls across the fabric.
step 06
Paint the cup and snake, focusing on capturing the metallic sheen and intricate details.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands and feet, paying attention to the anatomy and subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the pink drapery by mixing white with alizarin crimson and a hint of burnt umber. Create the gold color of the cup by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber and a touch of white for highlights.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to create a strong sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Neglecting the details of the hands and feet.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags