plate no. 8112

Louis Antoine de Saint Just

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering of fabric folds. It will also improve their understanding of light and shadow to create form.

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 clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of white, ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Develop the hair with layers of dark brown and lighter highlights, paying attention to the direction of the curls.
step 05
Paint the white cravat, focusing on the subtle gradations of light and shadow to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful attention to detail.
step 07
Refine the clothing, adding details such as the collar and buttons.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, ochre, and a touch of red. Darker areas use burnt umber and black. The white cravat requires subtle mixing of white with small amounts of ochre and umber for shadows.

techniques