plate no. 4839

Der Französische König Louis Xiv

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothinghatroyalhistorical

experienced study

This painting provides an opportunity to practice portraiture, including rendering skin tones and details of clothing. Students can also learn about layering and glazing techniques to achieve depth and luminosity.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and hat.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the patterns and textures.
step 06
Work on the hat, rendering the feathers and the gold trim.
step 07
Glaze layers to build depth and richness in the colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · gold

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create the gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber and a hint of red.

techniques