plate no. 0333

Guillaume Marie-Anne, comte de Brune, maréchal de France (1763-1815)

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguretablelandscapecolumnclothing

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 clothing. It also provides practice in depicting textures and details in fabrics and accessories.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic composition and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, textures, and embellishments.
step 05
Work on the background elements, such as the landscape and architectural details.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure and objects.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Create the dark clothing by mixing ivory black and ultramarine blue. Use white with a touch of yellow ochre for the light colored pants.

techniques