plate no. 0378

Portrait of Manuel Godoy

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghistoricalinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and achieving realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and torso.
step 02
Establish the background with a light wash of color, paying attention to the drapery folds.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and hair, using simplified values.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the buttons, lace, and embroidery, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the fabric folds.
step 07
Refine the background, adding details to the window and other elements.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use blue and white to create the various shades of the jacket. Mix raw umber with white for the silver details.

techniques