plate no. 9131

Portrait of Bernard Ignat Von Martinice (detail)

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and understanding subtle value changes to create form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and proportions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and the general tones of the face and clothing.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones of the skin, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, hair, and collar to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Develop the details of the hair and beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the edges and transitions between values to create a smooth and realistic effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and umber, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth and blue for shadows. Use raw umber and ivory black for the background, adjusting the ratio for value changes.

techniques