plate no. 0304

Baron de Stassart, president of the senate

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingred backgroundhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle shading. It also provides practice in painting realistic textures of clothing and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of red paint, paying attention to subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main values of the face, starting with the shadows and gradually building up the highlights.
step 04
Begin to define the features of the face, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 07
Refine the hands and the paper, paying attention to the subtle details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of red ochre and cadmium red with white to create the background. Use raw umber and ivory black mixed with white for the clothing. Skin tones are achieved by mixing red ochre, yellow ochre, raw umber, and white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·value studies
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle variations in tone.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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