plate no. 1036

Dr Samuel Brown (1817–1856)

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingstarsdark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and the general tones of the figure.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using darker tones to create depth and form.
step 05
Add the highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of light and dimension.
step 06
Carefully blend the edges of the forms to create a smooth and seamless transition between values.
step 07
Add the small stars in the background using small dots of white paint.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a harmonious and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix the skin tones by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark tones of the clothing and background. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to darken the shadows.

techniques