plate no. 0357

Maternity

Gino Severini, 1916

oil, canvasNeoclassicismgenre paintingfiguremotherbabyclothingportraitbreastfeeding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and subtle color blending to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in capturing the emotional connection between mother and child.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, neutral color.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Add details to the baby's face and hands, focusing on capturing the soft features.
step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 07
Add final details, such as the hair and subtle textures.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and black for the dark clothing and hair. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the light clothing.

techniques