plate no. 5728
The Funeral of St. Stephen
Filippo Lippi, 1460
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth using atmospheric perspective and how to render figures with drapery in a classical style. It also provides practice in depicting complex architectural details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective of the architecture.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, focusing on the atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Begin to define the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the drapery and how it folds and drapes over the figures.
- step 05
Refine the architectural details, such as the columns and ceiling.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Carefully render the faces and hands of the figures.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · cadmium red light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and umber. Use glazes to create depth and luminosity in the colors.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
- ·drapery rendering
- ·glazing
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective of the architecture
- →Overly bright or saturated colors
- →Lack of depth in the background
- →Poorly rendered figures
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·set of acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·glazing medium
- ·varnish
Use a smooth canvas to allow for detailed rendering. Consider using a toned ground to help establish the overall color harmony.
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