plate no. 1740

Young Sick Bacchus

oil, canvasBaroquemythological paintingfiguregrapesfruitleavesdraperymythology

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model forms with light and shadow. It will also provide practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the figure, fruit, and drapery.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the grapes, leaves, and drapery, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 06
Refine the facial features, capturing the expression.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Use glazes of ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create shadows and depth.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the grapes and fruit.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags