plate no. 1681

Virgin and Child with the Infant St John

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfiguresreligiousmotherchildinfantdrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly rendering flesh tones and creating a sense of volume through subtle shading. It also provides practice in capturing complex drapery and creating a dramatic, chiaroscuro effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with a mid-tone.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones to build up the highlights on the skin and drapery.
step 05
Carefully blend the transitions between light and shadow to create a soft, luminous effect.
step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and drapery folds.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in tone to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall contrast.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark background and shadows. Mix ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre to create the blue drapery.

techniques