plate no. 8365

Gertrude, Duchess of Bedford

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslacebookdrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, dark tones, focusing on the drapery.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the dress and skin tones with base colors.
step 04
Begin refining the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, lace, and ribbons.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the fabric.
step 07
Paint the book, paying attention to the texture of the pages.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as highlights in the eyes and subtle details in the lace.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of burnt umber to create darker, muted tones. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create the warm tones in the skin and drapery.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·blending
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Oversimplifying the folds and details of the dress.
→Creating muddy or dull colors by overmixing.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags