plate no. 7359

Portrait of Jean Tronchin

pastelRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingwighistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in blending pastel colors to achieve smooth transitions and subtle variations in skin tone and fabric texture. It also provides practice in capturing realistic facial features and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a light layer of pastel, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Begin blocking in the main areas of color on the face, hair, and clothing, using light pressure.
step 04
Gradually build up the values and details on the face, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the hair, using short, curved strokes to create the texture of the wig.
step 06
Develop the details of the clothing, including the buttons and folds.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, softening them where necessary.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · rose madder

Mix raw umber and white for the background. Use burnt sienna and white with touches of rose madder for the skin tones. Mix ivory black and white for the wig, adding touches of raw umber for depth.

techniques