plate no. 7926

Portrait De Madame Denis, Nièce De Voltaire

oil, cardboardRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslacewreathpearl necklace

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and fabric textures. It will also teach them how to create a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral gray.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing with basic color mixtures.
step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the folds, ruffles, and lace.
step 06
Paint the wreath, capturing the variations in color and texture of the leaves.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The dress requires mixing red and white with small amounts of black and umber to create the various shades and patterns.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the facial expression.
→Losing the sense of depth and form by flattening the values.
→Getting lost in the details of the dress and neglecting the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black, viridian green, ultramarine blue, raw umber)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags