plate no. 8654

The Last Supper

wood, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigurestablearchitecturelandscapereligious sceneinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and understanding the use of perspective in both interior and landscape settings. It will also improve their ability to render drapery and facial expressions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and figures with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the background landscape and architectural elements.
step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to proportions and drapery.
step 05
Add details to the faces and hands, focusing on expressions.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, building up layers of paint.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · red ochre · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · vermilion · lead white

Mix earth tones with white to create a range of muted colors. Use glazes of ultramarine blue and vermilion to add depth and richness to the shadows and highlights.

techniques