plate no. 4704

Pauline-Felicite de Nesle (1712-41), Countess of Vintimille

oilRococoportraitportraitwomanfeatherhairclothingrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It will also provide practice in depicting textures like fur and feathers.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval frame and the basic proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 04
Add details to the hair and headdress, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the clothing and fur, building up layers of color and texture.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the eyes, lips, and any jewelry.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine and white for the cool tones in the hair. Mix black and umber for the dark fur.

techniques