plate no. 2941

Study after Velazquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X

Francis Bacon, 1953

oil, canvasExpressionismsymbolic paintingfigureportraitpopechaircurtainsreligious figure

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork, layering techniques, and capturing emotion through distorted forms. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted and desaturated tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's pose and the chair's structure.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna to tone the canvas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the purple robe, the white dress, the yellow chair, and the dark background.
step 04
Use loose, expressive brushstrokes to build up the figure's form, paying attention to the distorted features.
step 05
Layer in highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, using a limited palette of colors.
step 06
Add details to the chair and background, using vertical strokes to suggest the curtains.
step 07
Refine the figure's expression, focusing on the mouth and eyes to convey emotion.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to balance the composition and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · purple · yellow · white · black

secondary · grey · brown

Mix purple by combining red and blue, and desaturate it with a touch of yellow or brown. Achieve the off-white tones by mixing white with small amounts of grey, yellow, or brown.

techniques