plate no. 8795

The Ghent Altarpiece, God Almighty (detail)

oilNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigurereligiousrobecrownthronestaff

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic drapery, capturing fine details, and understanding the use of glazes to achieve rich color depth. It also provides practice in portraiture and depicting complex textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed line drawing of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and the folds of the robe.
step 02
Establish the base colors for the background, figure, and throne, using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the form of the figure with layers of color, focusing on the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the face, hands, and robe, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 05
Paint the intricate details of the crown, staff, and throne, using gold and other metallic colors.
step 06
Apply glazes to deepen the colors and create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism of the painting.
step 08
Carefully render the text and decorative elements.

color palette

primary · red · gold · green

secondary · white · black · brown

Achieve the rich reds by layering crimson and alizarin crimson. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the gold tones. Mix greens with ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow.

techniques