plate no. 5329

Portrait of a Spanish general (Esteban de Saravalle de Assereto)

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering textures of clothing and facial hair. It also provides practice in understanding and applying chiaroscuro to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and the overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark red-brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, uniform, and hair, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform, including the buttons, epaulettes, and medals, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 07
Refine the details of the hair and beard, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · gold

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining yellow ochre, cadmium red, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows. Mix gold with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for the uniform details.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and form.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, titanium white, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags