plate no. 5554

Portrait of a man (Jacques Germain Soufflot?)

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingdrawing toolsdesk

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to create subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, face, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall values and relationships between them.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to build up depth and form.
step 04
Work on the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.
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 · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and brown. The dark jacket is a mix of black and blue, lightened with white for highlights. The background is a muted mix of browns and blacks.

techniques