plate no. 5359

Portrait of Joachim Murat, King of Naples and of the Two Sicilies

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureroyaltyclothingcrownfurniture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as painting complex textures like fabric and fur.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, establishing the overall color and value.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the figure, including the clothing and pose.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the textures of the fabric, fur, and embellishments.
step 06
Paint the crown, scepter, and other accessories, focusing on their metallic sheen.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · white · gold · brown

secondary · blue · black · silver · teal

Achieve the red tones by mixing cadmium red with alizarin crimson and a touch of white. Create the gold tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of metallic gold paint. Mix the skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·fur rendering
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Creating muddy or dull colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·Oil paints (red, white, gold, brown, blue, black, silver, teal, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, cadmium red)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags