plate no. 5192

A Grecian Lovely

John William Godward, 1909

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitfigureportraitdraperymarblehairclassical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also offers practice in painting drapery and creating the illusion of translucent fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and the placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, drapery, and background.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Develop the drapery, using thin glazes to build up color and create the illusion of folds and transparency.
step 05
Paint the hair, adding highlights and shadows to define the shape and texture.
step 06
Render the marble background, focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add details such as the jewelry, the pattern on the dress, and the subtle highlights in the eyes.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to achieve a harmonious and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson, with small amounts of burnt umber and blue for shadows. The purple drapery is created by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue with white for lighter areas.

techniques