plate no. 1548

Countess Lavinia Spencer

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinglacebowsfur

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures like fur and lace.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and fur, using thin washes.
step 04
Refine the skin tones with subtle variations in color and value, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the lace collar and bows, using small brushes.
step 06
Render the fur texture with short, broken brushstrokes and varying values.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, umber, sienna, and a touch of crimson. Use yellow and white for the lighter fur areas, and umber and black for the darker areas. Create the lace color by mixing white with a tiny amount of umber or sienna.

techniques