plate no. 3332

Giuliano de Medici

panel, temperaEarly Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairrenaissance

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding the use of light and shadow to create form.

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 clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of color, ensuring it's even and consistent.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of yellows, reds, and whites, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin to refine the features of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth, and use subtle color variations to create depth.
step 05
Paint the hair using a mix of browns and reds, adding highlights and shadows to create texture and volume.
step 06
Block in the colors of the clothing, using a mix of reds and other colors, and add highlights and shadows to create folds and drapery.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, adding texture and patterns as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the entire painting, ensuring that the light and shadow are consistent and believable.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cerulean blue · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and cerulean blue to create shadows and darker tones. Mix raw sienna with white for highlights.

techniques