plate no. 4853

Portrait Du Baron Haussmann

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also offers practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin, dark wash of brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shape of the nose, eyes, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Add subtle color variations to the skin tones to create depth and realism.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a cohesive and lifelike portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber to create dark shadows and background tones.

techniques