plate no. 4902

Marc René, Marquis de Voyer d'Argenson, Lieutenant General of the King's armies, Inspector General of Cavalry

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurearmormaleclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as rendering metallic surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and armor.
step 02
Block in the background with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones and shadows on the face, using thin layers of paint.
step 04
Begin building up the details of the armor, paying attention to highlights and reflections.
step 05
Refine the facial features, adding subtle details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · raw umber · viridian

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the armor's metallic sheen by layering blues, greens, and grays, then adding highlights with white and yellow ochre.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·color blending
·rendering metal
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face and body.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Failing to capture the reflective qualities of the armor.
→Losing the overall sense of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, Prussian blue, raw umber, viridian)
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags