plate no. 7348

Portrait of Count Orlov-Chesmensky

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghatmedalhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle color variations and depicting fine details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values with thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, gradually building up layers of color and tone.
step 04
Focus on the face, paying close attention to the light and shadow to create a realistic likeness.
step 05
Refine the clothing and accessories, adding details such as the medals and ribbons.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows 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 · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create variations in color. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create dark shadows and subtle grays.

techniques