plate no. 8616
The Last Supper
Nicolas Poussin, 1649
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and creating depth through value and color. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the table.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' robes and the background.
- step 04
Refine the figures' forms, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the table and the surrounding architecture.
- step 06
Glaze thin layers of color to create depth and richness.
- step 07
Add highlights and final details to the figures' faces and hands.
- step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and raw sienna. Use small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue to create variations in the shadows and highlights.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·figure drawing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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