plate no. 9424

Portrait of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

pastelRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghairfacehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in blending pastel colors for smooth skin tones and capturing subtle variations in light and shadow. It also offers practice in rendering fabric textures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a mid-tone pastel, blending smoothly.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with a light base and gradually adding shadows and highlights.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Block in the main colors of the clothing, focusing on the blue jacket.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the gold trim, buttons, and white lace collar.
step 07
Refine the hair, using light and dark pastels to create texture and volume.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · sky blue · ivory · rose madder

secondary · gold · burnt umber · payne's gray

Mix ivory with small amounts of rose madder and yellow ochre to achieve realistic skin tones. Use payne's gray and burnt umber to create shadows and depth.

techniques