plate no. 0584

Portrait of Alexandra of Denmark

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredressjewelryvasebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere 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 oval composition and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background, and vase.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering light and shadow to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 05
Add details to the background, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 06
Paint the jewelry and vase, paying attention to highlights and reflections.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darker values for shadows. Mix alizarin crimson and burnt umber for the dress.

techniques