plate no. 9995
Portrait of a Lady of the Court
Lavinia Fontana, 1590
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice painting intricate details like lace and jewelry.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the overall composition and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values, focusing on the background, skin tones, and major areas of the clothing.
- step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the clothing, including the ruff, jewelry, and patterns.
- step 05
Work on the dog, paying attention to its fur and features.
- step 06
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Glaze layers to adjust the colors and values.
- step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · gold
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and a hint of blue or green. Achieve the subtle grays and blues of the dress by mixing white with small amounts of black and blue.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·rendering
- ·detail work
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- →Inaccurate color mixing for skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (small round, flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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