plate no. 9006

Portrait of French Journalist Louis-François Bertin

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairbackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering of fabric textures, and subtle value gradations for realistic form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying character through facial expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values of the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Work on the hands, carefully observing the anatomy and proportions.
step 07
Refine the background and chair, adding subtle details.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the dark blacks by mixing ivory black and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down some of the darker areas.

techniques