plate no. 3391

Marquise De Louvencour

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredressflowersfanbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate fabrics. It also offers practice in subtle color mixing and creating soft, diffused lighting.

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 with thin washes of warm colors, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, starting with the dress and then moving on to the skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 05
Add the details of the dress, including the ruffles, lace, and folds, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the flowers in the hair and on the dress, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and form.
step 07
Add the fan and other accessories, using fine brushstrokes to capture the details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · violet

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create grays for shadows and subtle variations in the dress.

techniques