plate no. 9973

Louis Xiv

pastelBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehairclothinghistoricalmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing the depiction of complex textures like hair and fabric.

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, hair, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations and highlights.
step 04
Develop the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the lace collar and gold embellishments.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use yellow ochre and white to create highlights on the clothing. Darken shadows with burnt sienna and a touch of black.

techniques