plate no. 1239

Portrait of Henri Duparc

Alessandro Zezzos, 1907

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacemustache

some experience helpful

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

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 portrait's basic shapes and proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and clothing with corresponding values.
step 04
Begin layering colors and refining the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar, tie, and jacket.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and clothing.
step 08
Check proportions and values, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions for highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the dark tones in the clothing.

techniques