plate no. 3578

Portrait of Benedetto di Tommaso Portinari

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurebooklandscapestaffreligious figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create realistic skin tones. Students will also learn to render textures like fabric and aged paper.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: head, body, book, and staff.
step 02
Block in the background landscape with broad strokes, establishing the horizon line and basic color values.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the robe, paying attention to the subtle folds and shadows.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with a base color and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the book, paying attention to the texture of the pages and the binding.
step 07
Add details to the staff, focusing on the intricate carvings and metallic sheen.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding final details.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark robe, adding small amounts of ultramarine blue for depth. Create the gold of the staff by mixing cadmium yellow light with burnt sienna and a touch of raw umber.

techniques