plate no. 1843

Neagoe Basarab (Study)

oilImpressionismsketch and studyfigurekingcrownarchitecturereligiousportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabrics, and creating a sense of depth with limited detail. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, crown, and architecture.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Mix and apply skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the crown, using small brushstrokes to suggest the jewels and metalwork.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and pattern.
step 06
Paint the architecture with simple shapes and values, suggesting form without excessive detail.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ivory black

Mix skin tones using raw umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Achieve the teal color of the robe by mixing cerulean blue and viridian. Use yellow ochre and raw umber for the gold elements.

techniques