plate no. 7294

Helena van der Schalcke as a Child

oil, panelBaroqueportraitfigureportraitdresschildbagdark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabrics. It also provides experience with creating depth using a limited palette and subtle value shifts.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and bag on the panel.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, even tone, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with a mid-tone white, paying attention to the folds.
step 04
Add darker shadows to the dress to create volume and dimension.
step 05
Begin working on the face, using thin layers of paint to build up the features.
step 06
Paint the details of the bag, including the texture and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the dress, including the lace and ribbons.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the entire painting to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix shades of white with small amounts of raw umber and ivory black to create subtle variations in tone for the dress. Use red and yellow ochre sparingly for the face and details.

techniques