plate no. 9041

Marie-Louise, Princesse De Lamballe

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresshairflowersframe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering delicate fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape of the portrait and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, dress, and hair.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create depth and form.
step 04
Work on the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the flowers in the hand, focusing on their delicate colors and shapes.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the jewelry and the frame.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber. Use glazes of alizarin crimson and cadmium red to create the rosy cheeks. Mix white with small amounts of ultramarine and raw umber for the cool tones in the dress.

techniques