plate no. 1319

Portrait of Aynard, Count of Clermont-Tonnerre, Brigadier General

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremilitary uniformmanmedalshat

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex details like medals and uniform embellishments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown and umber.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Develop the skin tones, layering and blending colors to create realistic shading.
step 05
Paint the uniform, paying attention to the details of the fabric and embellishments.
step 06
Add the medals and decorations, carefully rendering their intricate designs.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow or alizarin crimson to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering details

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Getting lost in the details and neglecting the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels