plate no. 9014

St. Matthew

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurebookbeardreligiousportraitchild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as understanding chiaroscuro to create dramatic lighting effects.

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 proportions of the figures and the book.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color, focusing on the overall light and shadow patterns.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of warm and cool colors, paying attention to the subtle variations in value.
step 04
Develop the details of the beard and hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 05
Refine the details of the book, including the pages and binding, using precise brushwork.
step 06
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a sense of drama and depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the warm skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red light for warmth. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue to create cool shadows.

techniques