plate no. 2634

Duke of Wellington (copy After Sir Thomas Lawrence)

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric and details. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure and the main elements of the composition.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Establish the main shapes and values of the face, focusing on accurate placement of features.
step 04
Begin layering in skin tones, using subtle variations to create form and dimension.
step 05
Paint the uniform, paying attention to the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the uniform, such as the gold braid, buttons, and decorations.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add highlights to the eyes and hair.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the red of the uniform by mixing cadmium red with a touch of black or umber to darken it. Gold details are created with yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the face and body.
→Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of attention to detail in the uniform and accessories.
→Flat or lifeless rendering of the fabric and textures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife