plate no. 8216

St. Philip

oilTenebrismreligious paintingfiguredraperybeardcrosshaloreligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's pose and the placement of the cross.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted blue-gray tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and drapery with mid-tone browns and creams.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights and shadows on the face, paying close attention to the bone structure and wrinkles.
step 05
Refine the drapery folds, using a combination of blending and sharp lines to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using thin brushes and varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Paint the cross with dark browns and subtle highlights.
step 08
Add the halo with a very light yellow or gold, blending it softly into the background.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing raw umber, white, and small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Darken shadows with ivory black and ultramarine blue. Create the drapery by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre.

techniques