plate no. 2155

Napoleone Elisa Bacciochi, daughter of Elisa, sister of Napoleon I.

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitgirlbirdlandscapeflowerscart

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing smooth blending techniques to create soft transitions.

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 the placement of the figure, the bird, and the main elements of the background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas, starting with the sky and the background landscape.
step 03
Establish the skin tones of the girl's face and hands, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Paint the white dress, using different shades of white and gray to create form and dimension.
step 05
Add details to the bird, focusing on the texture of the feathers and the subtle color variations.
step 06
Paint the flowers and the cart, adding details and textures.
step 07
Refine the background landscape, adding details to the trees and the distant hills.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of yellow ochre, raw umber, and ultramarine blue to create the subtle variations in the dress. Use a combination of yellow ochre, raw umber, and burnt sienna to create the skin tones.

techniques