plate no. 8496

St. Julian and the Redeemer

frescoEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligiousskylandscapearchitectureclouds

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand layering techniques and how to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It will also develop skills in portraiture and drapery painting.

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 placement of the figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky and clouds with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, focusing on proportions and gesture.
step 04
Develop the drapery folds and shadows, using a limited palette of reds, blues, and grays.
step 05
Add details to the faces, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the landscape elements, using atmospheric perspective to create depth.
step 07
Add the architectural details and inscriptions.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · red ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of red and blue with white to create the drapery. Use raw umber and yellow ochre to create the landscape tones. Achieve the sky color by diluting ultramarine with white.

techniques