plate no. 7124

Portrait of Agrafena Ribeaupierre

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresshairjewelryrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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, focusing on the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace and ribbons.
step 06
Add the jewelry and other accessories.
step 07
Refine the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Use viridian green and raw umber to create the muted green in the dress.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Losing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, viridian green, ivory black
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette
·Easel