plate no. 1269

Portrait of a Young Man

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino", 1550

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitmancollarclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through careful shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Establish the background tones with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Begin to define the details of the hair and beard, using small, controlled brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the collar, carefully rendering the intricate pattern and texture.
step 07
Block in the dark tones of the clothing, adding subtle highlights and shadows to create form.
step 08
Add final details and refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, raw umber, and a touch of red. Darken shadows with ivory black and raw umber. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·glazing
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the facial features.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Difficulty rendering the intricate details of the collar.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and form through shading.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels