plate no. 1785

Louis-Charles-Antoine Desaix en Uniforme de Capitaine au 46e Régiment De Ligne en 1792

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigureuniformmanclothingmilitary

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and metallic details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and shadows on the face.
step 04
Begin layering the colors of the uniform, focusing on the white and blue sections.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the details of the uniform, including the buttons and trim.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create the blue of the uniform with ultramarine blue and white, adding a touch of black for shadows. Achieve the gold accents with yellow ochre and burnt sienna.

techniques