plate no. 7199

St. Mary Magdalene or St. Thais in the Desert

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurelandscapereligiousdraperyrockssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting realistic skin tones and rendering complex drapery folds with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the main elements of the landscape.
step 02
Establish the dark and light values using a limited palette of burnt umber and white.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure, drapery, and background, paying attention to the overall color harmony.
step 04
Develop the skin tones by layering thin glazes of color, focusing on the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Refine the drapery folds, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and depth.
step 06
Add details to the landscape, such as the rocks, trees, and sky, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 07
Glaze the entire painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and yellow ochre, and adjust the values with burnt umber. Create the red drapery by glazing cadmium red over a dark underpainting. Mix blues and whites for the sky.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints: burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags