plate no. 0488

Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitfiguresgroup portraitmilitaryweaponsclothingarchitecture

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering complex textures of clothing and metal, and managing a large and detailed composition. It also requires careful observation of light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 80 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms of the figures and background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, focusing on the areas of greatest contrast.
step 04
Start adding details to the faces, clothing, and weapons, working from general to specific.
step 05
Pay close attention to the textures of different materials, such as fabric, metal, and wood.
step 06
Refine the edges and contours of the figures to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism of the painting.
step 08
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · gold

Achieve the various skin tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the dark shadows. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber to create the red clothing.

techniques

·grisaille underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early before establishing the overall composition.
→Failing to create a strong sense of light and shadow.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (36x72 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife