plate no. 5601

Portrait of the Duke of Farrobo, Joãn Pedro Quintilla

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitfigureportraitskywallclothing

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 atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background sky and distant landscape.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow on the wall and floor, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin layering the figure's clothing, starting with the darkest areas of the jacket and boots.
step 05
Carefully mix and apply the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons, trim, and folds.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky. Use burnt umber and white for the wall and floor. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, ivory black, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife