plate no. 3497

Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino", 1540

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfigurebuildingbooklandscapedrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of light and shadow on the face and drapery. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions of the figure and placement of key elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background buildings and sky.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and hair color of the figure.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face and hands.
step 05
Work on the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the book and other objects in the foreground.
step 07
Refine the architectural details in the background.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, adjusting ratios for highlights and shadows. Create the drapery colors by mixing cadmium red with varying amounts of burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques