plate no. 9455

Gainsborough Dupont

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurehairclothinglaceface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the oval shape and basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Lightly block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 04
Develop the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add the details of the lace collar, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the background, blending the colors smoothly.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue-green of the clothing by mixing ultramarine blue with yellow ochre and white. Use raw umber and black to create the darker tones in the hair and background.

techniques