plate no. 1411
The Story of St. Nicholas. Birth of St. Nicholas
Fra Angelico, 1448
panel, temperaEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresarchitectureinteriorreligious scenebuildinglandscape
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in perspective and understanding how to create a sense of depth through color and detail. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details and drapery.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to the placement of figures and architectural elements.
- step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the background, buildings, and figures.
- step 03
Develop the architectural details, focusing on accurate perspective and shading.
- step 04
Refine the figures, paying attention to anatomy, drapery folds, and facial expressions.
- step 05
Add details to the landscape, including the flowers and foliage.
- step 06
Glaze with thin layers of color to build depth and richness.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
- step 08
Apply a final varnish to protect the painting.
color palette
primary · ochre · ultramarine blue · red · white
secondary · green · brown · gold
Mix ochre with white for the building walls, ultramarine with white for the sky and some drapery, and various shades of red for the figures' clothing. Use glazes of brown and green to create depth in the landscape.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·linear perspective
- ·drapery rendering
- ·figure drawing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective in the architecture.
- →Overly harsh or muddy color mixing.
- →Lack of attention to detail in the figures' anatomy.
- →Ignoring the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
- →Rushing the glazing process.
materials
surface · gessoed panel
required
- ·gessoed panel
- ·tempera paints
- ·fine detail brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·soft cloths
- ·pencil
optional
- ·retarder
- ·varnish
- ·palette knife
Tempera paints dry quickly, so work in small sections and keep your brushes clean. Consider using a retarder to slow the drying time if needed.
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