plate no. 9021

Jean-Baptiste Brequin de Demenge

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingwighistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and main lines of the clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted blue, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on the highlights and shadows on the face and neck.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Block in the white jacket and red trim, using a light gray for the jacket and a vibrant red for the trim.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons, ruffles, and folds in the fabric.
step 07
Refine the hair, using short, broken strokes to create the texture of the wig.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the entire painting to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt umber. The background is created by mixing ultramarine blue with ivory black and a touch of white.

techniques