plate no. 2689

Portrait of Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland

pastelRococoportraitportraitfigureboyclothingtablepaper

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and soft blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background color with a soft, even layer of pastel.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin layering and blending pastels to create smooth transitions and subtle color variations in the skin tones.
step 05
Add details to the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using sharper pastel pencils.
step 06
Render the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 07
Add the details of the lace collar and the gold trim on the jacket.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches to enhance the realism and depth of the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The blue jacket requires mixing ultramarine with a touch of black for shadows. The background is a mix of raw umber, yellow ochre, and white.

techniques