plate no. 2365

Dr. William Hartigan

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalwig

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form. Students will also learn to simplify complex details like the ruffled collar.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash of muted green/brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and collar.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of color.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on accurate placement and rendering of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Render the ruffled collar with careful attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and a hint of umber. The background is a mix of umber, black, and a touch of yellow ochre. The black clothing is a mix of ivory black and burnt umber.

techniques