plate no. 2511

Portrait of Giovanni De’ Medici of the Black Bands

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino", 1548

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitmalearmorfigureclothingrenaissance

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing subtle skin tones, as well as rendering metallic surfaces and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and armor.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, focusing on accurate placement of features.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Start defining the armor, using a range of grays and whites to create a metallic sheen.
step 06
Add details to the armor, such as rivets and decorative elements.
step 07
Refine the facial features, adding details like the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Create metallic effects by mixing white and black in varying proportions, adding hints of blue or brown for cooler or warmer tones.

techniques