plate no. 1113

Hypocrates

oil, panelNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurebeardbookclothingcolumn

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Start developing the background, adding details to the architectural elements and the red cloth.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, using layers of color to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Work on the clothing, carefully rendering the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands and the book, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism and depth.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and red for the clothing and background. Use white and yellow ochre to create highlights on the skin and beard. Add small amounts of blue to darken shadows.

techniques