plate no. 6258

Cleopatra

oil, canvasAcademicismhistory paintingportraitfigurejewelrycrownnecklacefloral background

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering intricate details like jewelry and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the face, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Lightly block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add layers of color to build up the skin tones, using subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on the overall shape and highlights.
step 06
Carefully render the crown and necklace, paying attention to the details of the jewels.
step 07
Add the floral background, using a combination of loose brushstrokes and more detailed rendering.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

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

secondary · cerulean blue · viridian green · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use cerulean blue and white for the eyes. Mix viridian green and white for the emeralds.

techniques