plate no. 2984

Portrait of Ernest Renan

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the background with a dark, muted color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the clothing, using darker values to create depth and form.
step 07
Add the highlights on the hair and clothing.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of ultramarine blue to cool the tone.

techniques