plate no. 1335

St. Paul writing to the Thessalonians

oilBaroqueportraitfigureportraitbookbeardwritinghands

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in chiaroscuro and portraiture, specifically how to model forms using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures, such as skin and fabric.

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 mid-tone brown or gray.
step 02
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, book, and hands.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the darker areas, gradually adding layers of paint to create depth.
step 05
Focus on the face, carefully rendering the features and capturing the expression.
step 06
Work on the beard, using dry brush techniques to create texture and volume.
step 07
Add details to the book and hands, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding finishing touches.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark shadows, and add white to create lighter shades. Mix small amounts of cadmium yellow light to add warmth to the highlights.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create a strong sense of light and shadow.
→Getting the proportions of the face and hands wrong.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the main subject.