plate no. 3191

Portrait of János Matta

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmanchairclothingfigurehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in painting realistic textures, such as fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones, using layers of subtle color variations.
step 04
Define the features of the face, focusing on accurate placement and shading.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the chair and background.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final touches.
step 08
Add details such as the ring and the texture of the beard.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for dark areas and shadows. A touch of viridian can be added to the background to create depth.

techniques