plate no. 9847

Portrait De Louis-Joseph-Leroy

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghandface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering skin tones, and understanding light and shadow on a face. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

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 and facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, clothing, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing and background, adding texture and interest.
step 06
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. The background is a blend of raw umber and ivory black, lightened with white in areas.

techniques