plate no. 2308

Lady Ponsonby, née Caroline Cavendish in Costume Veneziano

pastelRococoportraitportraitfiguredressrococohistoricalflowers

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of fabric textures, as well as color mixing for skin tones and complex patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the pastel paper.
step 02
Establish the background with soft, blended layers of dark browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with base colors of yellow and gold.
step 04
Begin layering in the details of the floral pattern, using reds, greens, and browns.
step 05
Develop the skin tones on the face and hands, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the dress and figure.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and polished painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the gold fabric by layering yellow ochre with burnt sienna and raw umber. Muted greens are made by mixing viridian green with raw umber.

techniques