plate no. 1393

The Three Marys at the Empty Sepulchre

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguresangelslandscapesepulchrerobesreligious

experienced study

This painting provides a good exercise in rendering drapery and skin tones with subtle gradations. It also challenges the student to create a balanced composition with multiple figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and subtle blending.
step 04
Render the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the faces and hands, capturing the expressions and gestures.
step 06
Paint the background landscape, using soft, atmospheric colors.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, creating a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final glazes to enhance the colors and create a unified effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix skin tones with white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the blue robes by mixing ultramarine blue with black and white. Achieve the gold drapery with yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, leading to a flat composition.
→Ignoring the subtle nuances of color in the drapery.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
→Incorrect proportions of the figures

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife