plate no. 5266

Portrait of Jean Baptiste Gayot Dubuisson

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredogpaletteclothingchair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding chiaroscuro and creating depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and dog.
step 02
Establish the dark background using thin layers of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing and the dog with mid-tone browns and tans.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights and shadows on the face, using thin glazes of color.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the buttons, trim, and fabric folds.
step 06
Add details to the dog, focusing on its fur and facial features.
step 07
Paint the palette and brushes, paying attention to the colors and textures.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · raw sienna · gold

Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create the dark browns and blacks for the background and clothing. Mix raw sienna with white for the lighter browns.

techniques