plate no. 4355

The ordination of St. Lawrence

oilEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresarchitecturereligious scenecolumnsrobeshalo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations and applying gold leaf or paint.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the basic shapes and colors of the background, including the architecture and sky.
step 03
Begin painting the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 04
Pay close attention to the folds and shadows in the drapery to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Mix and apply the subtle color variations in the skin tones and clothing.
step 06
Add the details of the faces, hands, and other features.
step 07
Apply gold leaf or paint to the halos and other decorative elements.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · rose madder · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · ivory black · gold

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white or black. Achieve pinks and reds by mixing rose madder with white. Create subtle greens by mixing yellow ochre and viridian.

techniques