plate no. 9474

Portrait of General Henryk Dembiński

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryinteriormapbattle

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and atmosphere through layering and glazing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background and surrounding elements, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Focus on the portrait, building up the skin tones with layers of thin glazes.
step 05
Add details to the uniform and other elements, such as the map and sword.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 07
Add final details, such as the texture of the fur and the reflections on the sword.
step 08
Glaze overall to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt umber and ivory black for shadows. Create the dark greens of the uniform by mixing viridian, ivory black, and burnt umber.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, leading to a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat or lifeless painting.
→Neglecting the background and surrounding elements, making the portrait feel isolated.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition and values.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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