plate no. 9378

Portrait of Derich Born

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfoliageinscription

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will allow students to practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as working with a limited color palette to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone, paying attention to the subtle variations in value.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using thin layers of paint.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle tonal changes.
step 05
Paint the clothing, using darker values to create depth and form.
step 06
Add details such as the lace collar, ring, and foliage.
step 07
Carefully render the inscription at the bottom, paying attention to the letterforms.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, and small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Use cadmium red light sparingly to add warmth to the skin tones.

techniques