plate no. 1401
Virgin and Child with Two Angels
Ambrogio Bergognone, 1485
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle shading, as well as understanding how to render drapery and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their proportions.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of reddish-brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the black robe, the red garments, and the flesh tones.
- step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the drapery, including the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Paint the hair and the halos, using thin layers of paint.
- step 07
Add the details on the trim of the garments and the book.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.
color palette
primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · titanium white
Mix white with small amounts of red and yellow ochre to achieve the skin tones. Use burnt umber to create shadows and depth in the drapery. Mix black with small amounts of red to create a deep, rich black.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery rendering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the facial expressions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before starting to paint.
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