plate no. 1553

Head of King Louis XV

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurehairfacemalerococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in blending pastel colors to create subtle skin tones and rendering soft, flowing hair with loose strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face with light pastel strokes.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle transitions.
step 04
Define the facial features, paying attention to the shape and placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Render the hair with loose, flowing strokes, varying the pressure to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add highlights to the hair and face to create a sense of luminosity.
step 07
Refine the background with soft, blended strokes.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · red ochre · payne's gray · yellow ochre

Mix ivory with small amounts of raw umber and red ochre to create the base skin tone. Use burnt sienna and red ochre for the lips and cheeks. Payne's gray mixed with raw umber creates the darker tones in the hair.

techniques