plate no. 4646

Portrait of Eugene Berny Douville

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothinghairchairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a focal point and using soft edges to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the placement of the figure within it.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main features of the face and the outline of the clothing.
step 03
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted brown tones.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the light and the individual strands.
step 06
Block in the dark coat and the yellow vest, then add details and folds.
step 07
Paint the floral pattern on the cravat, simplifying the design as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the details and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the dark tones in the background and coat.

techniques