plate no. 1118

The Hermit

canvas, oilBaroquegenre paintingmonkskullbooktreearchitecturefoliage

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create depth using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering textures of different objects like fabric, wood, and bone.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a toned ground (e.g., burnt umber wash).
step 02
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on the placement of the monk, the architecture, and the still life elements.
step 03
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 04
Start building up the dark areas, paying attention to the light source and shadows.
step 05
Begin rendering the monk's figure, focusing on the folds of the robe and the details of the face.
step 06
Add details to the still life elements (skull, book, crucifix, etc.).
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the dark, rich tones by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red light sparingly to add warmth to the highlights and mid-tones. White is used to create highlights and to lighten the darker colors.

techniques