plate no. 6423

Charles-Joseph Ernest De Ligne

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingmilitaryhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and rendering realistic textures in clothing. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth through subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the clothing, starting with the red coat and then adding details like the buttons and trim.
step 05
Carefully render the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add the white shirt and ribbon, creating subtle folds and highlights.
step 07
Paint the hair, using light and dark values to create volume.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · red · white · grey · flesh tones

secondary · gold · brown · blue

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue or green. The red coat can be created by mixing a bright red with a touch of brown or black to create shadows.

techniques