plate no. 7375

Mrs.Jeremiah Lee (Martha Swett)

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapecolumnfruit

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic fabrics. It also offers practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background landscape.
step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the figure, starting with the face and hands.
step 04
Begin layering the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the face, including eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the details of the dress, including the fur trim and purple sash.
step 07
Paint the fruit and foliage, focusing on accurate color and form.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · cadmium orange

Achieve the gold dress color by mixing yellow ochre with touches of burnt umber and white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber and white for the dark background and dress shadows.

techniques