plate no. 2604

Portrait of Gerolamo Casio

oilHigh Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanclothingwreathhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main shapes with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 05
Paint the wreath, focusing on the shapes and values of the leaves.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the details of the hand and the paper, including the ring and the text.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ivory black to create shadows and yellow ochre to add warmth.

techniques