plate no. 9349

John Rolle Walter, Mp and Landowner, Exeter

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguremanfurclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering textures, particularly the fur collar.

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, shoulders, and fur collar.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin, even layer of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, blue coat, and fur collar.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the hair with small, curved strokes, varying the color and value.
step 06
Work on the fur collar, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the coat, and mix browns and yellows for the fur.

techniques