So, Tim, you are very right in saying that there are truly no secrets to the paintings by the old masters. Perhaps there are only similarities in some of their paintings. And though they are not secret, most painters and artists (with the exception of a few master artists such as yourself and others on this forum) don't use those similarities as a guide. And I would hope that not every artist would use them as a guide because that would become so limiting.
You are a very wise man Tim. I hope to get in one of your classes some day.
Here is one last example of a painting by Mr. B. in which used a simple color scheme.