plate no. 6090

William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingtablecolumndrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, value control, and creating subtle gradations in tone. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and textures with a limited palette.

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 main shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to define the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin blocking in the mid-tones, focusing on the larger areas of the figure and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value that create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, table, and background elements, using soft blending techniques.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Check the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to the values and details.
step 08
Add final details and adjust contrast as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre

Achieve the various shades by mixing raw umber and ivory black with varying amounts of titanium white. Use yellow ochre sparingly to warm up certain areas.

techniques