plate no. 1259

Ann Parolini Guicciardini

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingbooklacechair

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of red-brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and book.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, buttons, and lace trim.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands and book.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · red ochre · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using a combination of white, red ochre, and a touch of yellow and umber. Achieve the gray-blue of the dress by mixing black, white, and a small amount of blue. Use burnt sienna and yellow to create the book's color.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
→Using too much paint, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle value gradations that create depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (red ochre, ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium yellow light, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags