plate no. 7813

Portrait of Dr.William Hunter

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureportraitclothinglight sourcehistoricalmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the head size and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of warm browns and yellows, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the main light source and shadow areas on the face and hands using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin building up the details of the face, focusing on accurate placement of features and subtle value changes.
step 05
Block in the basic shapes of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the lace cuffs and gold trim, using small brushes and careful brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as highlights on the hair and clothing.
step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the overall tone and enhance the depth.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of brown and green by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, ivory black, and viridian green. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson to warm up the skin tones.

techniques