plate no. 6064

Philip Yorke (1757–1834), 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, KG, MP, FRS, FSA

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingmalechairhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in blending and creating subtle gradations of color.

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 proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, clothing, skin tones, and chair.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, including eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, adding folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the background and chair, ensuring they complement the figure.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights in the hair and clothing.
step 08
Glaze to unify colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Create the dark blue of the coat by mixing ultramarine blue and ivory black. Use burnt umber and ivory black for the dark background.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, burnt umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags