plate no. 5093

Pavel Vasil'evich Golenistchev-Kutuzov, Russian General, Military Governor of St.-Petersburg

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformgoldman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in depicting complex details like the uniform and decorations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of yellow ochre and raw umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and uniform, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, and blending the skin tones.
step 05
Work on the uniform, adding details to the collar, epaulettes, and medals, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the gold details using layers of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, highlighting the texture and sheen.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face, hair, and uniform, adjusting the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of red and blue for subtle variations. Achieve gold tones by layering yellow ochre and burnt sienna, then highlighting with white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face and body.
→Overblending of skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Getting lost in the details of the uniform before establishing the overall form.
→Inaccurate rendering of the gold details, making them look dull or artificial.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, titanium white)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Linseed oil
·Turpentine or mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags