plate no. 6718

The Young Saint John the Baptist

oilEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfigureportraitreligioushairstaffhalo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and hair, as well as understanding chiaroscuro to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic outline of the figure, focusing on accurate proportions and the profile.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of black paint.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and body using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, gradually building up highlights and shadows with subtle color variations.
step 05
Paint the hair, paying close attention to the direction and flow of the curls.
step 06
Add details to the staff and fur, focusing on texture and form.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the face and hair, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add the halo with gold or yellow paint, and make final adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows, and add white for highlights. Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the hair.

techniques