plate no. 7177

Madame De Pastoret and Her Son

oilNeoclassicismportraitfigureportraitdresschairinteriorchild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, fabric rendering, and creating soft, diffused lighting effects. It also offers practice in capturing realistic skin tones and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral gray, paying attention to subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Begin painting the figure's skin tones, focusing on accurate color mixing and smooth blending.
step 04
Paint the white dress, using different shades of white and gray to create folds and shadows.
step 05
Add the details of the chair and the child's cradle, paying attention to the wood grain and textures.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Create the white dress by mixing white with varying amounts of gray and blue.

techniques