plate no. 6360

St. Paul at Malta

oilBaroquereligious paintingfigureslandscapefireoceanskytrees

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in dynamic poses and creating atmospheric perspective with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in depicting the effects of light and shadow in a nighttime scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of dark and light, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the sky and ocean, paying attention to the subtle gradations of tone.
step 04
Start adding details to the figures, working from general shapes to more specific forms.
step 05
Define the landscape elements, such as trees and rocks, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the fire and its reflected light on the figures and surrounding area.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the drama and realism of the scene.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the dark, muted tones by mixing black with umber and small amounts of blue. Use white to create highlights and lighter areas, and add touches of sienna and ochre for warmth.

techniques