plate no. 9263

Portrait of Sculptor Barye with a Wax Model of "Seated Lion"

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguresculpturelionclothingtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using chiaroscuro.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure, sculpture, and table.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of dark, warm colors, focusing on creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Establish the main value masses of the figure's clothing, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the sculpture, focusing on capturing the details and texture of the bronze.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the small details like the red decorations on the coat and the object in the hand.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and black by combining raw umber, burnt umber, and ivory black. Use white to create highlights and yellow ochre and cadmium red to add warmth to the skin tones.

techniques