plate no. 5766

Sir William Herschel (1738–1822)

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingdocumentfur

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportion and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and document.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of color, focusing on the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 05
Render the fur collar, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Carefully paint the document, including the text and any other details.
step 08
Refine the painting with glazes and highlights to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue and black to create cooler shadows. Mix raw umber and cadmium red for the fur.

techniques