plate no. 0072
The Portinari Altarpiece, St. Thomas and St. Anthony the Hermit with Tommaso Portinari and two sons Antonio and Pigello, Left Wing
Hugo van der Goes, 1475
oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligiouslandscapearchitectureportraitchildren
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, drapery rendering, and creating atmospheric perspective in landscapes. It also provides practice in achieving realistic skin tones and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the figures' robes and the landscape.
- step 03
Develop the background landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Refine the figures' forms, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomy.
- step 05
Add details to the drapery, creating folds and shadows to convey volume.
- step 06
Work on the faces, capturing the individual features and expressions.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Apply final details, such as the halo, rosary, and textures.
color palette
primary · red · green · black · earth tones
secondary · gold · blue · white
Achieve the rich reds by mixing a crimson with a touch of brown. Create the greens by blending blues and yellows, adding a touch of brown for muted tones. The blacks are complex, requiring mixing of several dark hues.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·underpainting
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Overly bright or flat colors
- →Lack of depth in the landscape
- →Insufficient attention to detail in drapery
- →Poorly rendered facial features
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (red, green, black, white, earth tones, blue, gold)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Aristotle
Justus van Gent
The Man of Sorrows with the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist
Martin Schongauer
The pride of the beggar sitting on the train of haughtiness
Albrecht Altdorfer
Adoration of the Magi
Quentin Matsys
Christ on the Cross
Albrecht Altdorfer
Frühling - Das Bereiten Der Blumenbeete
Pieter Brueghel the Younger
Group of Men
Rogier van der Weyden
Madonna and Child Holding a Pear
Bernard Van Orley