plate no. 1668

Old Man Holding a Skull

oilBaroqueportraitportraitskullfiguremanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, value studies, and creating realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in rendering complex forms like the skull.

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 the proportions of the figure and the skull.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and skull with mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering in highlights and shadows on the face, paying attention to the bone structure and wrinkles.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Refine the skull, focusing on its unique texture and form.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red light for warmth. Use ivory black to darken values and create shadows.

techniques