plate no. 8883
Maria Cristina di Borbone, Princess of the Two Sicilies
Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1818
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and chair, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, dress, and chair.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress, using darker values to create depth and texture.
- step 06
Paint the flowers in the hair, paying attention to their form and color variations.
- step 07
Add details to the chair and jewelry, using small brushes for precision.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final touches.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Darker values are created by adding burnt umber and ivory black.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·value control
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to create enough contrast in the dress.
- →Not paying attention to the details of the jewelry and flowers.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. It's helpful to have a variety of brush sizes for different details.
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