plate no. 3258

Portrait of Adriaen Corver and His Wife Rijckje Theulingh

oilBaroqueportraitfiguresportraitinteriortableclothingchairs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and clothing folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, clothing, table, and skin tones.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 05
Work on the background and other elements, adding details and adjusting values as needed.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for skin tones, and add small amounts of cadmium red light for warmth. Create the green of the table cloth by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white.

techniques