plate no. 3980

Portrait of King Louis XV

pastel, paper, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigurearmorclothingroyalwig

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as capturing the reflective qualities of metal armor. It also provides practice in depicting complex drapery and fine details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and major shapes.
step 02
Block in the background with a muted, blended color.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the face, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Paint the wig, using short, curved strokes to suggest individual hairs.
step 06
Block in the armor with dark grays and blacks, then add highlights to create a metallic effect.
step 07
Paint the clothing and fur, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 08
Add final details, such as the jewelry and embroidery.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the armor's metallic sheen by layering grays and blacks with white highlights. Mix blues and whites for the clothing.

techniques