plate no. 9518

Joseph Amerling (1818–1885), the artist's brother

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigureboyclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and rendering soft light and shadow. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing, paying attention to the angle of the head.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, gradually building up darker tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing. Use thin layers of paint.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of pink, yellow, and brown. Focus on the light and shadow areas.
step 05
Work on the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 06
Define the features of the face: eyes, nose, mouth. Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the clothing, adding details such as the collar and buttons.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt umber. Hair color is created with variations of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and ivory black. The background is primarily burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques