plate no. 4666

St. John the Evangelist

oilHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresaintsnakecupreligiousportrait

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value transitions, as well as rendering drapery and metallic surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, cup, and snake, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, skin tones, clothing, and cup.
step 03
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on subtle value changes to create form.
step 04
Develop the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Refine the details of the cup and snake, adding highlights and shadows to create a metallic effect.
step 06
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the expression.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the hair and the embellishments on the clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · ivory black · viridian

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create the dark background. Mix blue and white for the shirt, and red and white for the cloak.

techniques