plate no. 7851

Portrait of Jean de Gros

oilNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurehandsclothingringhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hands, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, slightly textured wash of blue and black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light flesh tones, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
step 05
Paint the hair with dark browns and blacks, using short, controlled strokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Render the hands, paying close attention to the folds and wrinkles.
step 07
Paint the clothing with dark, opaque colors, adding subtle highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final details, such as the ring and the highlights in the eyes.

color palette

primary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Achieve the dark background by mixing ultramarine blue and ivory black. Use raw umber and ivory black for the clothing.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·value studies
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face and hands.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Lack of subtle value changes, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Ignoring the planes of the face, leading to a distorted likeness.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Easel