plate no. 2157

A Neapolitan Girl in traditional costume, holding a tambourine and wearing a beadnecklace, a landscape beyond

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitfigureportraittambourinelandscapeclothingjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing soft blending techniques to create smooth transitions.

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 the proportions of the figure and the placement of the tambourine.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad, blended strokes of muted greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the figure: the skin tones, the white headscarf and blouse, and the red and blue details of the clothing.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color to create a realistic effect.
step 05
Refine the details of the headscarf, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Paint the tambourine, focusing on the highlights and shadows to give it a three-dimensional appearance.
step 07
Add the details of the jewelry and the facial features, paying close attention to the proportions and placement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the colors and values are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red and burnt umber. Achieve the soft greens of the landscape by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white.

techniques