plate no. 9437

Portrait of Johann Hauffe

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalwig

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating soft, atmospheric backgrounds and depicting fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of dark blues and browns.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing with dark values.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the wig with careful attention to the individual strands and curls.
step 07
Add the details of the ruffled collar, using light and shadow to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for the dark background, adding white for lighter areas.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to accurately capture the likeness of the subject.
→Neglecting the background, making it appear flat and lifeless.
→Using too much detail in the clothing, distracting from the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags