plate no. 3782

Nikolai Lvov

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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, shoulders, and main features.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, blended tone, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and hair, using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, especially the collar and ruffles, using lighter values for highlights and darker values for shadows.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth to capture the likeness.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The blue coat is a mix of ultramarine blue and black, lightened with white. Darker tones are achieved by adding more black or umber.

techniques