plate no. 4191

Colonel James Capper and His Daughter

oilRococoportraitfiguresportraitfatherdaughterclothinghands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin tones, clothing, and hair.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the ruffles and folds.
step 06
Work on the hands, capturing their form and gesture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the edges and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix white with small amounts of red, yellow ochre, and raw umber to achieve realistic skin tones. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background and clothing. Add white to these darks to create highlights and mid-tones.

techniques