plate no. 1871

Henry Valois

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurehatruffhistorical clothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending.

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 head, hat, and ruff.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the hat, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 05
Render the ruff with careful attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, refining the likeness.
step 07
Paint the clothing and background, ensuring they complement the overall composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows. Add burnt sienna to warm up shadows and create depth.

techniques