plate no. 8850

Portrait of a Goldsmith

oilNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelryhandshat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fur and metal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of blue paint.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones with a mix of reds, yellows, and whites.
step 04
Begin layering the fur collar, using dark browns and blacks, and adding highlights.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to folds and shadows.
step 06
Carefully render the hands, focusing on the details of the fingers and nails.
step 07
Paint the rings, using gold and adding small details for the gemstones.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for dark areas, and add white for highlights. Mix blue and white for the background, adjusting the ratio for variations in tone.

techniques