plate no. 6473

Samuel Crompton

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothingwigpaper

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 creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and mid-tones of the clothing and face.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the highlights and shadows on the face to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 05
Paint the wig, using short, broken strokes to suggest the texture of the hair.
step 06
Render the clothing, focusing on the folds and creases in the fabric.
step 07
Add details to the hands and the paper, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix burnt umber and ivory black for the background. Use cadmium red mixed with burnt umber and white to create the red coat. Mix white with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the skin tones.

techniques