plate no. 0562

Still Life with Silver-gilt Tazza

oilBaroquestill lifefruitsquirrellobsterbaskettablewarestill life

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures, such as the fur of the squirrel and the woven basket, as well as understanding how light interacts with different surfaces like metal and fruit.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of each object.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the fruit, squirrel, and other objects with their basic colors.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build form and create highlights and shadows on the fruit and other objects.
step 05
Focus on rendering the textures of the basket, fur, and metal tableware using appropriate brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the squirrel's face and paws, and the lobster's shell.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details and glazes to enhance the colors and textures.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Achieve the warm tones of the fruit by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue sparingly to create cool shadows.

techniques