plate no. 3688

Cosimo de' Medici

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitmanprofileclothinghathistorical figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a convincing sense of depth and form through careful shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying close attention to proportions and angles.
step 02
Establish the background with a solid, dark tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hat, and clothing using simplified color mixtures.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering subtle variations of color, focusing on highlights and shadows to define the form.
step 05
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the subtle nuances of expression.
step 06
Render the fabric of the hat and clothing, paying attention to the folds and creases.
step 07
Add the details of the hair and any other small details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and convincing portrait.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · ivory black · burnt sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Vary the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Red for the hat and clothing is modified with black and umber for darker shades, and white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overly harsh or abrupt transitions between skin tones.
→Losing the likeness of the subject.
→Applying too much paint at once, resulting in a muddy or overworked appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, ivory black, burnt sienna)
·set of round and flat brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife