plate no. 6883

Duke Anton the Good of Lorraine

oil, panel, temperaNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitmale figurebeardhathistorical clothingrenaissance

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding subtle value changes to create form. It also provides practice in rendering textures, such as the beard and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, face, clothing, and hands.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the values in the face to create form and dimension, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Render the beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture and individual hairs.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery, and the subtle variations in color.
step 07
Add details such as the hat ornaments and the inscription.
step 08
Refine the background and make any necessary adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

The skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber and burnt sienna with small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red light. The black clothing is a mix of ivory black with a touch of raw umber to soften the color. The background is a mix of raw umber and white.

techniques