plate no. 0483

Portrait of Pope Clement VII

oil, woodMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitmale figurereligious figurebeardhatclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as understanding chiaroscuro to create depth and form. Students will also learn how to capture likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the surface with gesso and let it dry completely.
step 02
Create a light sketch of the composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 03
Establish the dark background using a thin layer of black or dark brown paint.
step 04
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hat, and clothing using thin washes.
step 05
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Pay close attention to the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details to the beard and clothing, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Refine the painting by adding final glazes and highlights.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · titanium white · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use black and burnt umber for the beard and shadows. Mix red with a touch of umber for the hat and clothing.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the paint and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Not paying enough attention to the details of the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black, titanium white, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags