plate no. 4474

Portrait of Charles II of Bourbon

panel, temperaNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureclothinghandsarchitecturereligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering realistic fabric textures and folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 05
Add the architectural details in the background, focusing on accurate perspective and shading.
step 06
Refine the details of the hands and rings.
step 07
Add the small black dots on the white clothing.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · ivory black · gold

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create the dark accents and shadows. Mix red and white for the red clothing.

techniques