plate no. 3440

Man Playing the Theorbo (self-portrait?)

oilBaroqueself-portraitfigureinstrumentchairlandscapeclothingportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression, as well as understanding how to render fabric and textures with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and instrument.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and background, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, using highlights and shadows to create the illusion of folds and textures.
step 06
Work on the instrument, paying attention to its shape and the details of its construction.
step 07
Refine the background, using atmospheric perspective to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve the subtle skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of umber, sienna, and crimson. Use varying amounts of white to create highlights and shadows. For the clothing, mix umber and black with white to create the various shades of gray and brown.

techniques