plate no. 4709

Johanna Holstein Gottorp

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguredressfabricroyalchair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice painting realistic fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, skin tones, dress, and fabrics.
step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace, jewels, and fabric folds.
step 05
Paint the red sash and other decorative elements, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Render the fur trim of the robe, using short, broken brushstrokes to simulate texture.
step 07
Add final details, such as the facial features, hair, and any remaining embellishments.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create shadows and darker values. Mix ultramarine blue and titanium white for the blue dress.

techniques