plate no. 5169

Portrait of a Lady

oilRococoportraitfiguredresslandscapeurnfoliageportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the urn.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with thin washes of color, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the fall of light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the facial features, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, rendering the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add the details of the urn and the surrounding foliage.
step 07
Introduce the blue sash and yellow shawl, adding pops of color.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining white, black, and umber. Create the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of crimson. Achieve the blue of the sash by mixing ultramarine with white.

techniques