plate no. 3794

Charles Burney

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingmusichistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and lightest highlights to define the form.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 06
Add the musical score, focusing on the overall shape and tonal values.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and enhance the depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Create the gold fabric with yellow ochre, raw sienna, and white. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue for the background.

techniques