plate no. 3730

Portrait of Sir John Parnell, 2nd Baronet

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingmanletter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Work on the red coat, layering colors to create depth and texture.
step 05
Add details to the white shirt and lace, using thin washes of color.
step 06
Paint the gold trim on the coat, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the features of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final details, such as the letter in the hand and any stray hairs.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The red coat is built up with layers of cadmium red and touches of burnt umber for shadows. The background is a mix of black and umber with subtle variations.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Making the red coat too flat and lacking in depth.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (cadmium red, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife