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The painting was, for all intents and purposes, complete
at this point.
However, upon inspection of the figure, I decided that a few minor adjustments
would improve the piece. And while some contemporary artists insist that
painting
in Premiere Coup (one coat) is the sign of a true master, I am reminded
of the words
of two great masters.
Rubens said:
"...in regard to the lights: in them the colors may be loaded as much
as may
be thought requisite. They have substance: it is necessary, however, to
keep them
pure. This is effected by laying each tint in its place, and the various
tints next
to each other, so that, by a slight blending with the brush, they may be
softened
by passing one into the other without stirring them much.
Afterwards you may return to this preparation, and give to it those decided
touches which are always the distinctive marks of great masters."
It is reported by his student Palma Giovene that Titian
never painted a figure alla prima
and that the master used to say:
"He who improvises can never make a perfect line of poetry."
With this in mind, I am not afraid to make minor adjustments
to the work at the end,
adding depth to shadows, clarity to highlights, and smoother transition
to the middle tones
where needed. In this instance, only a very few minor changes were made...
and I'm not telling where.
The close up of the figure shown below gives a better view
of the colors,
values and edges.
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