plate no. 7668

Anne Rider, Sister of John Smith, Speaker of the House of Commons

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredresshairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to render fabric and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone, leaving a slightly lighter area around the figure's head.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, using thin washes of paint.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, adding highlights and shadows to create form and volume.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to suggest texture and curls.
step 06
Work on the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of depth and movement.
step 07
Add the details of the jewelry and any other accessories.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the dark blues of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with black and a touch of red. Use white to create highlights.

techniques