plate no. 3832

Portrait of Louis De Rouvroy, Duke of Saint-simon, Knight of the King of France's Orders in 1728

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghairarmorhistorical

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 subtle value gradations for realistic skin tones and clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted earth tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, hair, and clothing, using simplified color masses.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the fur trim and armor, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the hair and clothing.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the emblem in the upper left corner.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the blue of the robe by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for darker shades.

techniques