plate no. 5872

Alexandr Viazemsky

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingtabledocumentschair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in painting detailed textures and fabrics.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and objects.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the larger areas of the figure's clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, including the lace, embroidery, and medals.
step 05
Paint the table and documents, focusing on the textures and folds.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background, and mix viridian with yellow ochre to create the green hues of the clothing.

techniques