plate no. 9417

Mrs Joseph Cox, née Elizabeth Macro

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingpearlshair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric and jewelry. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and subtle value transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the oval composition and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, clothing, and hair.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on accurate placement and rendering of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery. Use glazes to create depth and richness in the colors.
step 06
Add the details of the pearls and other jewelry, using highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Refine the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The background is primarily black with subtle variations of brown and blue. The fabric colors are created by mixing earth tones with white and blue.

techniques