plate no. 9753

A Lady Standing at a Virginal

oil, canvasBaroquegenre paintingfigureinteriormusical instrumentwallwindowpainting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic light and shadow, as well as accurately depicting textures like fabric and wood. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and perspective within an interior space.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background wall and floor.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, focusing on the shadows and highlights on the figure and objects.
step 04
Refine the details of the figure, including the face, clothing, and hands.
step 05
Add details to the musical instrument, chair, and paintings on the wall.
step 06
Pay attention to the subtle color variations and reflections in the fabric and wood.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to create depth and luminosity.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Achieve the subtle grays of the wall by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and blue. Create the golden tones of the dress by layering yellow ochre and raw umber with white. Mix the blues of the chair and dress with ultramarine blue and white, adding small amounts of black for shadows.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric
·creating atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife