plate no. 3732

Portrait of a Saxon noblewoman as Mary Magdalene

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitfigurelandscapedresstreedeersky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabric textures, and creating a sense of depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in glazing and layering techniques to achieve subtle color variations.

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 figure's proportions and placement within the landscape.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the figure, background, and sky, using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Begin building up the form of the figure, paying attention to light and shadow to create volume.
step 04
Add details to the face, hair, and hands, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 05
Render the fabric of the dress, focusing on the folds, highlights, and shadows to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 06
Paint the landscape background, starting with the distant mountains and working forward to the trees and grass.
step 07
Add the deer and other small details to the landscape to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Glaze the entire painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of red and brown for the dress, using white to lighten and black to darken. Create a range of greens for the landscape by mixing blue and yellow with varying amounts of brown.

techniques