plate no. 5624

Girl from Lombardy

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureportraitchairfoliagelandscapeclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones and capturing likeness, as well as practicing blending and layering techniques to create soft, realistic effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and the placement of the chair and background elements.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, indicating the sky, water, and distant landscape.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, hair, clothing, and hands, using simplified color masses.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth, and gradually build up the skin tones with subtle layers of color.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, ruffles, and textures, using a combination of blending and layering techniques.
step 06
Paint the chair, focusing on its form and the play of light and shadow across its surface.
step 07
Add the foliage in the foreground, varying the colors and textures of the leaves to create depth and visual interest.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values, colors, and details to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of raw umber. Use viridian and ultramarine blue to create the greens of the foliage, and alizarin crimson and ivory black to create the darks in the hair and chair.

techniques