plate no. 0821

Mrs Bracebridge and Her Daughter Mary

oilRococoportraitfiguresportraitlandscapedresstreemother and daughter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating soft, atmospheric backgrounds.

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 figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the dark values in the figures' clothing and hair.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, focusing on accurate features and expressions.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension in the clothing.
step 07
Paint the details of the landscape elements, such as the tree and distant field.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · rose madder · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · cadmium red

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and blue for dark shadows. Mix white with a touch of rose madder for the pink dress.

techniques