plate no. 2277

Portrait of Diderot

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanprofilehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering form using chiaroscuro and understanding the proportions of the human face in profile. It also provides practice in creating texture using hatching and cross-hatching techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background tone with a mid-tone value, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the hair and clothing using a dark charcoal or conte crayon.
step 04
Add the highlights on the face and shirt using white chalk or pastel, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 05
Refine the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using careful observation and subtle shading.
step 06
Develop the texture of the hair with short, directional strokes of dark charcoal and white chalk.
step 07
Blend and soften the transitions between values to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall realism of the portrait.

color palette

primary · sanguine · black · white

secondary · light brown · gray

The key is layering and blending sanguine, black, and white to achieve the subtle variations in skin tone. Use light brown and gray to soften transitions and add depth.

techniques