plate no. 3985
Portrait de Mlle de Cabarrus
Theodore Chasseriau, 1848
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and creating soft, diffused lighting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, dress, background.
- step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 04
Develop the folds and highlights in the dress, using thin glazes.
- step 05
Add details to the hair and flower crown.
- step 06
Paint the background, blending colors smoothly.
- step 07
Refine the details of the hands and the bouquet.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, and a touch of crimson. Use ultramarine and white for the cool tones in the dress. Mix greens from blue and yellow for the foliage.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
- →Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to make the colors appear richer.
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