plate no. 3964

'Best Friends'', Portrait of Countess Franziska Auersperg (1831–1847) with her dogs

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitchilddoginteriorcurtainchair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as depicting realistic textures in fabric and fur.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions and placement of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, establishing the overall composition and value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones of the child, paying attention to subtle variations in color and light.
step 04
Develop the details of the dog's fur, using layering and blending techniques to create a realistic texture.
step 05
Paint the fabric of the dress and curtain, capturing the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the background, including the chair and architectural elements.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces of the child and dogs, paying attention to the eyes and expressions.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of ultramarine blue for shadows. Create the green curtain by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white.

techniques