plate no. 6192

Molly, Dutchess of Nona

Frank Cadogan Cowper, 1905

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresscityscapearchitecturerose

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in depicting atmospheric perspective in the background cityscape.

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 proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the background cityscape with light washes of color, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, hair, and clothing, using simplified color values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, paying attention to the folds and patterns of the fabric.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the figure and clothing.
step 07
Refine the details of the background, including the architecture and foliage.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the rose and the details of the window frame.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, burnt umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Create the blue fabric by mixing ultramarine blue and ivory black, highlighting with yellow ochre.

techniques