plate no. 5193

Portrait of a Young Woman (Laura)

oil, canvasHigh Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureleavesclothinghairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and placement of the leaves.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, even tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, hair, clothing, and fur.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric and fur.
step 06
Add the leaves, focusing on their shapes, values, and placement.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and burnt sienna, with small amounts of red and yellow ochre for warmth. Darken colors with ivory black and raw umber. Mix sap green and yellow ochre for the leaves.

techniques