plate no. 1303

Head of an Old Man

oil, canvasTenebrismportraitportraitold manbeardfoliageheadfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model form using a limited palette. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of skin and hair with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a reddish-brown ground.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, beard, and foliage.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the background and foliage with a dark brown or black.
step 04
Begin modeling the face with mid-tones, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, beard, and clothing using lighter shades of white and ochre.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the wrinkles and texture of the skin.
step 07
Add details to the foliage, using dark greens and browns.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the mid-tones. Use titanium white to create highlights. Add ivory black to burnt umber to create the darkest shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white for subtle skin tones.

techniques