plate no. 8166

Eggert Christopher Tryde, provost of Copenhagen 1838-1857

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingruffcrossmedal

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form. The ruff provides an opportunity to practice rendering complex repetitive shapes.

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, focusing on the head, shoulders, and ruff.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of paint.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and background, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, building up layers of color to create depth and form.
step 05
Work on the ruff, carefully rendering the folds and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and medals, paying attention to the textures and patterns.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, umber, and a touch of blue. Vary the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Black and umber create the dark clothing. White and a touch of blue make the ruff.

techniques