plate no. 0108

Isabella De' Medici Orsini with a Dog

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfiguredogclothingjewelrybackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict complex fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the dog.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of warm brown tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing, using dark greens and whites.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, using a limited palette of reds, yellows, and whites.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the lace, embroidery, and jewelry.
step 06
Paint the dog, paying attention to the fur texture and the highlights in the eyes.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · burnt umber · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing red, yellow, and white with small amounts of umber for shadows. Mix greens by blending black, yellow and a touch of blue. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and richness.

techniques