plate no. 5152

Portrait of Prince G.G. Orlov

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghistorical figurejewelrymale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric and details. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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, paying attention to the head, shoulders, and torso.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and accessories.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, buttons, and decorative elements.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the hair and clothing.
step 07
Carefully render the jewelry and other accessories, paying attention to their intricate details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and burnt umber. Darker areas use more burnt umber and black. The red coat is a mix of cadmium red and a touch of black for shadows.

techniques