plate no. 2553

Portrait of an Old Jew

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitmanbeardhatoldfigure

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Work on the beard, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 06
Refine the details of the hat and clothing, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and values to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the ratios to create highlights and shadows. Use raw umber and ivory black for the darker areas of the background and clothing.

techniques