plate no. 4927

Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurearmorclothingswordhair

some experience helpful

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

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, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and gradually build up darker tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, red coat, armor, and black neckwear.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Render the armor with attention to reflected light and metallic texture.
step 07
Add details to the face, including eyes, nose, and mouth, ensuring accurate proportions and expression.
step 08
Refine the hair, adding highlights and shadows to create volume and texture.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, and yellow ochre, with small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. The red coat is primarily cadmium red, with burnt umber added for darker areas. Armor uses ivory black and white to create metallic sheen.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or flat skin tones.
→Lack of depth in the clothing and background.
→Difficulty rendering the metallic texture of the armor.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints: titanium white, cadmium red, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ivory black
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags