plate no. 7169

Thomas Noel-Hill (1770–1832), 2nd Baron Berwick of Attingham

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in creating a sense of depth and form using light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and realism.
step 04
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the hair, using loose brushstrokes to capture its texture and volume.
step 06
Develop the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background, adding small amounts of other colors to avoid a flat, lifeless black.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
→Making the background too dark or too light, which can distract from the figure.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.