plate no. 1530

Portrait of Tsar Peter I the Great (1672-1725)

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothinghistorical figuremaleface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and metallic textures.

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 face, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds of the fabric and the metallic sheen of the armor.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the hair and facial hair.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber with white to create a range of skin tones. Use small amounts of cadmium red to add warmth to the cheeks and lips. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the darker shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle gradations of tone.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife