plate no. 7823

Carlo Rimbotti

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino", 1548

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfigurebeardbookclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value transitions for rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using chiaroscuro.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, book, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values of the background and clothing, gradually building up the depth.
step 04
Block in the skin tones using a limited palette of earth tones, white, and a touch of red.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the book, focusing on the highlights and shadows to give it form.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones and ivory black to create shadows. Mix red with a touch of black to create the color of the book.

techniques