plate no. 9937

Portrait of Lord John Townshend

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the head tilt and shoulder placement.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and ruff, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows that define the form.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Render the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery, and adding highlights to the buttons.
step 07
Add details to the ruff, using small brushstrokes to create the illusion of lace.
step 08
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background and clothing. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Mix white with a touch of yellow for the ruff.

techniques