plate no. 1922

Portrait of François Henri d`Harcourt

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingruffhistoricaldrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes and loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and drapery using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing and ruff, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
step 05
Add the red drapery, focusing on capturing the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and clothing.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · viridian

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and cadmium red light, with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. The drapery uses cadmium red light mixed with ivory black for darker tones.

techniques

·portraiture
·alla prima
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, viridian)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags