plate no. 4285

The Miracle of St. Diego of Alcantara

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneinteriorlightdrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model forms using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering different textures, such as fabric and skin.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and objects, paying attention to their proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin building up the light areas, gradually adding highlights to create form.
step 05
Refine the details of the figures, paying attention to facial expressions and anatomy.
step 06
Add details to the objects, such as the censer and the table.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve the warm browns by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and a touch of red. Use white to create highlights and lighten the colors. Black is used sparingly to create the darkest shadows.

techniques