plate no. 4692

Portrait de Marie Dumont-Walbonne (1763-1818), future épouse du peintre Jacques-Luc Barbier, dit Barbier-Walbonne

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresscurtainlandscapebook

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements like the head, hands, and book.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, paying attention to the subtle gradations in the curtain and the distant landscape.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the figure, starting with the skin tones and then moving on to the dress and gloves.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the ruffles and folds, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the hands and book, paying attention to the details of the fingers and the pages.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the highlights in the eyes and the subtle shadows on the face.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.