plate no. 4598

A portrait of a young girl

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothinghairjewelry

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 a sense of depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of dark browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and clothing with base colors.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the hair, creating texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Develop the folds and shadows in the clothing, using a limited palette of purples and browns.
step 08
Add final highlights and details, such as the jewelry and the trim on the clothing.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt umber. Create the purple of the dress by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue, then lighten with white.

techniques