plate no. 1112

Le Brun Par Rigaud

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairdrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also offers practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes and blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, hair, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, layering and blending colors to create a realistic effect.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Render the clothing and drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the buttons, lace, and any other small elements.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a cohesive and balanced painting.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for dark areas, and white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the darks in the clothing.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overblending, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Inaccurate skin tones.
→Ignoring subtle value changes.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife