plate no. 9916

Portrait of Count I.G.Orlov

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghairhistoricalmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as blending techniques for skin tones and rendering fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and torso.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and fur collar.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery, and add the gold embellishments.
step 07
Render the fur collar with soft, blended strokes to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the blue of the coat by mixing Prussian blue with white and a touch of umber to mute the color.

techniques