plate no. 5832

Jeanne Philiberte Ledoux

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguredressflowershairpillow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and soft textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and pose.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted gray-green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and drapery.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
step 06
Paint the drapery, focusing on the soft, flowing texture.
step 07
Add the details of the hair and flowers.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · burnt umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and a small amount of blue or umber for shadows. The blue drapery is created by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for darker areas.

techniques