Girl wering a Crown

surface prep

The canvas should be prepared with a ground suitable for oil painting. While specific priming methods for this exact work are not detailed, traditional practice involves ensuring a stable surface to prevent cracking. The 'fat over lean' rule implies that the initial layers must be lean (less oil) to allow proper drying of subsequent richer layers (Source 1).

underdrawing

Traditional oil painting techniques often begin with the artist sketching the subject onto the canvas with charcoal or thinned paint (Source 1). Given Makovsky’s academic training, a precise underdrawing to establish the likeness is likely, as portraits historically required distinct skills to achieve a recognizable record of the sitter’s appearance (Source 4).

underpainting

The artist may have employed a monochrome underpainting (grisaille) before applying color. Traditional methods involve creating a grisaille, then glazing and scumbling with oil to add red and yellow tones, similar to tinting an engraving (Source 3). This technique allows for adjusting translucency and sheen, which are closely related to the expressive capacity of oil paint (Source 1).

Fat over Lean

A basic rule of oil paint application where each additional layer contains more oil than the layer below to allow proper drying and prevent cracking.

Glazing

Applying a transparent coat of color over a dry underpainting to adjust translucency and sheen, a method practiced by old masters and relevant to Makovsky’s academic tradition.

Scumbling

Semi-opaque painting through which the underlying painting shows, used to adjust tones and create specific effects like grey blooms.