plate no. 5712

Louis XVI of France

oil, woodNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothinghistorical figureman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding historical costume and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, dark tones, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar, jacket, and decorations.
step 06
Add highlights to the hair and clothing to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall values to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the green of the jacket by mixing blue and yellow, and darken with burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early.
→Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife