plate no. 7320

Portrait of Magdeburg Theologian Dr. Johannes Schöner

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanbeardfurrobe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of textures like skin, hair, and fur. It also provides practice in achieving subtle color variations and creating a sense of depth through shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even layer of paint.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, beard, robe, and fur collar.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the textures of the hair and beard using small, controlled brushstrokes.
step 06
Work on the folds and drapery of the robe, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Render the fur collar, focusing on capturing the soft, fluffy texture with varied tones.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall realism and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · flesh tones (ochre, white, red) · red · black · brown

secondary · teal · yellow ochre · grey

Mix flesh tones by combining ochre, white, and a touch of red. Achieve the robe's red by mixing a deep red with brown for shadows and adding a touch of white for highlights. The fur collar is achieved by mixing browns, yellows, and whites.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering textures

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overblending, resulting in a lack of texture.
→Using colors that are too saturated, making the painting look unnatural.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, ivory black)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·palette knife