plate no. 2428

Tears of St. Peter

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfigurelanterncandlelightreligioustable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to depict light emanating from a single source. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones under dramatic lighting.

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 placement of the figure, lantern, and table.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the areas illuminated by the candlelight with a warm yellow-orange.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with the shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Refine the details of the lantern, paying attention to the way the light reflects off the glass.
step 06
Soften the edges of the forms to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights to the face, hands, and lantern to enhance the dramatic effect.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and deepen the shadows.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ivory black for the darkest shadows. Mix yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber for the warm glow of the candlelight.

techniques