plate no. 8744

Lady Frances Greville (1744–1825), Lady Harpur

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscaperibbonhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as creating depth through atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad strokes, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, hair, and hands, using simplified color values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin paint and subtle color variations to create a realistic effect.
step 05
Add details to the dress, including the gold trim and the folds of the fabric.
step 06
Refine the hair, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the ribbon and the jewelry.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · viridian

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ultramarine for shadows. Achieve the dress color by mixing viridian with white and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques