plate no. 9058

Portrait of a Man with a Goatee

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitmangoateeruffdark backgroundfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding chiaroscuro and creating depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the subject's head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and ruff with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the background and shadows on the face.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to build up the skin tones, focusing on highlights and midtones.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, refining the likeness.
step 06
Work on the ruff, capturing its intricate folds and highlights with small brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding final details.
step 08
Add glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the skin tones. Achieve the ruff's highlights by mixing white with a touch of blue or gray.

techniques