plate no. 3382

Sir Thomas Spencer Wells Bt. (

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewinetablebottlesglass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and atmosphere through layering and glazing.

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, table, and bottles.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, refining the likeness.
step 06
Paint the details of the clothing, table, and bottles, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of transparent color to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red, lightened with titanium white. Achieve the darks by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Use glazes of cadmium red for the wine.

techniques