plate no. 7387
The Massacre of the Innocents
Bruno Canova, 1990
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures, creating depth through layering, and understanding complex compositions. It also encourages exploration of color mixing to achieve realistic flesh tones and subtle variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the hanging meat and the pile of remains.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted colors, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 03
Begin layering the colors for the hanging meat, starting with darker undertones and gradually building up lighter highlights.
- step 04
Focus on rendering the textures of the meat, using varied brushstrokes and color variations to create a realistic effect.
- step 05
Move on to the pile of remains, breaking it down into smaller sections and rendering each object individually.
- step 06
Pay close attention to the details of the bones, fish, and other objects, using fine brushes to capture their intricate forms.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the values and colors, ensuring that the focal points are emphasized.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of realism and depth.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Achieve realistic flesh tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and titanium white, adding small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and payne's gray for shadows. Use yellow ochre to create highlights and variations in the meat's color.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and realism through layering and value contrast.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
- →Not paying enough attention to the textures of the different objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, payne's gray)
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, detail)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·rags
- ·acrylic medium
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Consider using a retarder medium to slow down the drying time of the acrylics, allowing for more blending and layering.
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