plate no. 9111

Robert De Montesquiou

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfiguremanrobedark backgroundhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth using a limited color palette and visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark underpainting.
step 02
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the pose and head position.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the robe, and the background.
step 04
Develop the values and forms of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Refine the folds and details of the robe, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the hands and the object being held.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and values to create a cohesive image.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with small amounts of blue for cooler shadows. The robe is primarily yellow ochre and white, with burnt umber for shadows. Darken colors with burnt umber and black.

techniques

·scumbling
·dry brushing
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, raw sienna, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags