plate no. 7572

Lancelot Ridley Phelps, Hon. DCL, Provost

Briton Riviere, 1916

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfigurebooksdraperyclothingfurniture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting complex drapery and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Focus on the face, building up the skin tones with layers of color and careful blending.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and furniture, capturing the textures and folds.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and form.
step 07
Pay attention to the details in the hands and the letter.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to warm the skin tones. Add ultramarine blue to darken shadows.

techniques