plate no. 5761

Portrait of Louis Tocqué

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingpalettebrushesartist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, buttons, and lace.
step 05
Paint the palette and brushes, focusing on the textures and colors.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows. Mix cadmium yellow with titanium white to create highlights on the gold vest.

techniques