plate no. 5181

Louis Lemaistre De Sacy

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalface

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin layer of Burnt Umber.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure: head, clothing, and hand.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with darker values and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the clothing, using a limited palette of blacks and browns.
step 07
Add highlights to the collar and tassel to create contrast.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, umber, ochre, and a touch of red. Dark clothing is created with black and umber, lightened with white for highlights. Background is primarily umber with subtle variations.

techniques