plate no. 0667

Virgin Mary

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfigureportraitreligious figurehaloclothing

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and the outline of the veil.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin layer of dark gray, paying attention to the halo effect around the head.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the blue of the veil, the black of the hair, and the white of the collar.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Work on the drapery, creating folds and highlights in the veil and collar using lighter shades of blue and white respectively.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth, and adding subtle details.
step 07
Add the final highlights and details, such as the subtle glow of the halo and the texture of the fabric.
step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the tones and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. The blue of the veil is created by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for shadows. The halo is a mix of white and cadmium yellow light.

techniques