plate no. 9677

Portrait of a young Jewish woman

oilRomanticismportraitportraitwomanfiguredresslacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using value and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of value for the face, hair, and dress.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the lace collar, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the dress to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Refine the hair, adding texture and detail.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · sap green

secondary · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the dark tones of the dress by mixing ivory black with a small amount of raw umber. Vary the green background by adding small amounts of black or white.

techniques