plate no. 8669

Count Jean Antoine Chaptal

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingdeskchairfur

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, including accurate proportions, rendering realistic skin tones, and capturing the texture of different materials like fur and fabric. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the major color areas, focusing on the darks and mid-tones.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, fur, and accessories, building up layers of paint.
step 06
Refine the background, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and final details to the face and hands.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Use raw umber and black for dark areas, and add white for highlights. Mix browns for the fur using burnt sienna, raw umber, and black.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·layering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the face.
→Ignoring the importance of edges and transitions.
→Getting lost in details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags