plate no. 5308

St. Romanus and St. Barulas of Antioch

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguresreligiousbooklandscapeskyportraits

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, drapery rendering, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting textures and details in clothing and objects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin working on the figures, starting with the larger forms and gradually adding details.
step 05
Focus on accurately rendering the facial features and expressions of the figures.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and objects, such as the book and the portraits.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the dark, rich tones by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue and titanium white for the sky.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not paying enough attention to the lighting and shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 24x30
·oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife
·rags