plate no. 8408

Portrait De Madame Bauquin Du Boulay Et De Sa Niece

oilNeoclassicismportraitfiguresportraitwomendressfoliagefamily

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the background with broad strokes, focusing on creating depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the facial features, capturing the likeness and expression of the subjects.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and details.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the off-white of the dresses by adding small amounts of umber and yellow ochre to white. Mix greens for the background by combining blue, yellow, and umber.

techniques