plate no. 1661

Jean Claude Richard, Abbot of Saint-Non (Fanciful Figure)

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingruffhairtable

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in using a limited palette to create a range of values and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and hair.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background and edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, orange, and a touch of brown. Create the blue-green of the coat by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber and a touch of white. Use yellow ochre and white to create the highlights on the ruff.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Making the colors too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium orange, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife