plate no. 2469
Portrait of Cardinal Carlo de' Medici
Andrea Mantegna, 1466
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good exercise in portraiture, focusing on subtle value changes to create form. Students can learn to mix realistic skin tones and capture the likeness of a subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hat.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using thin washes.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations.
- step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create a smooth finish.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ivory black for shadows. Use yellow ochre to create the yellow trim.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portrait drawing
- ·value study
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
- →Using too much paint, which can obscure the subtle details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial blocking-in process.
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