plate no. 4459

Jean Jacques Caffieri

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering and blending to create smooth transitions.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 05
Work on the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Render the lace details with fine brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Add a thin glaze of color to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darker areas use burnt umber and blue. The background is a mix of black, umber, and a touch of green.

techniques