plate no. 6606

Portrait of Christian August, Prince of Anhalt Zerbst, father of Catherine II of Russia.

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurearmorlandscapecloudsmilitary

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict metallic surfaces and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, focusing on subtle value changes to create form.
step 04
Paint the armor, paying close attention to highlights and reflections.
step 05
Add the details of the clothing and accessories, such as the sash and sword.
step 06
Refine the background elements, including the clouds and distant tents.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and armor.
step 08
Glaze overall to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray for the armor. Use red and white with a touch of yellow ochre for the skin tones. Create atmospheric perspective in the background by lightening the colors.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering metal

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle value changes.
→Failing to capture the reflective quality of the armor.
→Creating a background that is too distracting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·rags