plate no. 5792

Portrait of the Procurator Dolfin

oilRococoportraitfigureportraitred robearchitecturetablewig

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the figure, architecture, and table.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the red robe, the background, and the skin tones.
step 04
Develop the folds and details of the robe, using variations of red and brown.
step 05
Refine the facial features and hair, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the architecture and table, including the tassels and book.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the various shades of red by mixing cadmium red with burnt umber and white. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the skin and robe. Create depth in the background by mixing burnt umber with ivory black.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating a flat, lifeless robe by not paying attention to value changes.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (cadmium red, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·linseed oil
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags