plate no. 2920

Portrait of Dmitry Levitzky

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingovalbackground figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused backgrounds and depicting clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape and the basic proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the jacket, the shirt, and the background.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, using subtle gradations of color to create form and volume.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Paint the jacket and shirt, paying attention to the folds and wrinkles in the fabric.
step 06
Soften the edges of the background and add the faint figure in the background.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Add a small amount of blue or green to create shadows. The jacket is a mix of red, umber, and black. The background is a muted mix of umber, white, and yellow ochre.

techniques