plate no. 5554

Portrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Council

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitfigureportraitbuildinginteriortablecurtains

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as rendering complex drapery and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions and the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, starting with the background and larger areas.
step 03
Develop the figure of Napoleon, paying close attention to the facial features and the folds of his clothing.
step 04
Add details to the table, chair, and other elements in the scene.
step 05
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Work on the details of the face, hands, and clothing, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the embroidery on the clothing and the texture of the fabric.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

Achieve the red of Napoleon's uniform by mixing cadmium red with a touch of yellow ochre and titanium white for highlights, and ivory black for shadows. The green background is achieved by mixing ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and ivory black.

techniques