plate no. 5024

St Matthew

oil, panelHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfiguremalebeardreligious figureportraitwriting

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of hair and fabric using layering and glazing techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a warm underpainting (burnt umber wash).
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figures, focusing on accurate placement.
step 03
Block in the darkest values, paying attention to the shadows under the chin, around the eyes, and in the background.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones to build up the form of the face, beard, and clothing, using thin glazes.
step 05
Focus on blending the edges of the light and dark areas to create a soft, diffused effect.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Refine the texture of the beard and hair by adding individual strands with a dry brush technique.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall warmth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white in varying proportions. Use small amounts of cadmium red to add warmth to the cheeks and lips. Create the dark shadows by mixing burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques