plate no. 7013

Portrait of Dom Manoel Joaquim Gonçalvez, 5th Bishop of São Paulo

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurerobesbooksinteriorclerical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting would allow students to practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides experience with subtle color mixing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

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 composition and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, figure, and clothing using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Establish the basic values and light source, focusing on the overall tonal relationships.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Add details such as the jewelry, books, and other accessories.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the transitions between different areas of the painting.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of red for the robes by combining red ochre with small amounts of ivory black and titanium white. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark tones in the background and clothing. Mix yellow ochre with titanium white to create highlights on the skin and fabric.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
→Inaccurate skin tone mixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (red ochre, ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags