plate no. 6040

The Sacrifice of King Codron of Athens

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)history paintingfiguresarchitecturelandscapesoldierssacrificehistory

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex drapery and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms with thin washes of color, focusing on value relationships.
step 03
Develop the figures, paying attention to anatomy, proportions, and drapery folds.
step 04
Render the architectural details, using perspective to create a sense of depth.
step 05
Add details to the background landscape, using atmospheric perspective to create distance.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Add final details, such as facial features, textures, and patterns.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create variations in warmth and coolness. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows and atmospheric effects.

techniques