plate no. 5390

Abbot Claude Charles Deschamps

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclerical collarfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone flesh color.
step 04
Begin layering lighter and darker tones to define the planes of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate shapes and values.
step 06
Paint the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Render the collar and clothing, paying attention to the subtle folds and highlights.
step 08
Refine the details and blend the edges to create a smooth, realistic finish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix various combinations of white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and cadmium red to achieve different skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the dark background and clothing.

techniques