plate no. 8446

The Portinari Altarpiece, St. Mary Magdalen and St. Margaret with Maria Baroncelli and Daughter Margherita Portinari, Right Wing

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigureslandscapetreesreligiousclothingsky

experienced study

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 capturing fine details and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background landscape, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Roughly sketch the figures, focusing on proportions and poses.
step 04
Start layering in the base colors for the clothing, hair, and skin tones.
step 05
Add shadows and highlights to create volume and depth in the figures and drapery.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces, hands, and other important elements.
step 07
Add the fine details of the clothing patterns and textures.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the colors and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · red · black · white · gold

secondary · green · brown · blue · yellow

Achieve the rich reds by layering crimson and scarlet. Mix blacks with umber and a touch of blue for depth. Use white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna for skin tones.

techniques