plate no. 9357

Portrait of Gillis Hooftman, Shipowner, and His Wife Margaretha Van Nispen

oilNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguresclothinginteriorbeardjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the figures, starting with the faces and hands.
step 05
Work on the clothing, carefully rendering the folds and textures.
step 06
Add the jewelry and other accessories, paying attention to their reflective qualities.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · gold

Mix blacks with umber and a touch of red to create depth. Use white to create highlights and subtle gradations in skin tones. Mix ochre and burnt sienna for the gold tones.

techniques