plate no. 5083

Portrait of George V in Coronation Robes

Luke Fildes, 1911

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfigurerobesroyalmanclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures and details in clothing and ornamentation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing and robes, capturing the textures and folds.
step 06
Add the details of the ornamentation and jewelry.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall values to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and cadmium yellow. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for the darker areas of the robes.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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