plate no. 7540

William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, Later 4th Duke of Devonshire

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingmalehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as rendering fabric and details.

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 torso.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, hair, and clothing, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, creating highlights and shadows to give it volume.
step 06
Work on the clothing, rendering the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 07
Paint the gold embellishments on the jacket, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background and clothing shadows. Mix yellow and a touch of brown for the gold details.

techniques