plate no. 9138

Portrait of Joseph Nollekens with His Bust of Charles James Fox

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurebustclothingman

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and bust, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones of the figures, layering subtle variations in color and value to create a sense of depth and form.
step 04
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a realistic texture.
step 05
Render the bust, paying attention to the details of the face and hair.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones using burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium yellow. Darken shadows with ivory black and Prussian blue.

techniques