plate no. 1399

Portrait of Jules Barbey D'Aurevilly

oilRealismportraitportraitmanfigureclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the portrait, focusing on proportions and placement of features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, creating texture and depth.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and beige for the skin tones by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use cadmium red light to create the red accents in the clothing. Add small amounts of ivory black to darken the shadows.

techniques