plate no. 8641

William Hunter

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingwigchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in rendering fabrics and creating subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, wig, and clothing, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the wig, using short, broken strokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the ruffles and folds, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Paint the chair and its details, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm the skin tones and viridian to create the green of the chair.

techniques