plate no. 9966

Count Rumford

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingmalehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures, such as the ruffles and the jacket.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the head, shoulders, and the placement of features.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, gradually building up the darker tones.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the face, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall values and color temperature.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Work on the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Develop the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights of the jacket and the ruffles of the shirt.
step 07
Add the gold trim and buttons, using a fine brush to create detail.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The red jacket is a mix of cadmium red with touches of umber and yellow ochre for highlights and shadows. The background is primarily raw umber and ivory black.

techniques