plate no. 4602

Architect Gottlieb Bindesbøll

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingred background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in layering and blending to create subtle gradations of color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color for the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, adding details such as folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the entire painting.
step 08
Let it dry and add a layer of varnish.

color palette

primary · red ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix red ochre and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark clothing, and mix red ochre with a touch of burnt umber for the background.

techniques