plate no. 7898

Adolf Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanglassesclothingfacechair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and using loose, expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in mixing subtle skin tones and creating depth with value.

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 chair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing and chair, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, softening some areas and sharpening others.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by combining white, burnt sienna, raw umber, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the grays for the clothing.

techniques

·alla prima
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil