plate no. 2403

Equestrian portrait of Christina, Queen of Sweden

oilBaroqueportraithorsefigureskylandscapedogsbird

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and animals, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and complex color mixing for subtle variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, horse, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky with broad washes of blue and white, creating cloud formations.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the horse and figures using simplified color masses.
step 04
Develop the details of the horse's anatomy, paying attention to muscle structure and highlights.
step 05
Refine the figures' clothing and facial features, adding subtle shadows and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the landscape, including the river and distant hills, using atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Paint the dogs and bird, focusing on their textures and proportions.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of thinned paint to create depth and luminosity.

techniques