plate no. 0167

Portrait of Prince Filippo di Medici

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfigurechildclothingruffhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in painting intricate details like the ruff and clothing.

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 of the head, shoulders, and ruff, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light and shadow, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Start building up the layers of the clothing, focusing on the folds and details.
step 06
Carefully paint the ruff, using small brushes to capture the intricate lace details.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black to create shadows. Muted browns are achieved by mixing umber, sienna, and black.

techniques