plate no. 8380

Female portrait. Perhaps Maria Alekseevna Gagarina, nee Volkonskaya

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapefoliagebench

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures, as well as creating atmospheric backgrounds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, shawl, and head covering.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress and shawl, rendering the folds and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background details, such as the foliage and bench.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and polished painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · ivory black

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of other colors to create the subtle tones of the dress and skin. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones of the background.

techniques