plate no. 4494

Portrait of Anna Stepanovna Protassova, the former maid of honor of Catherine II

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitwomandressshawlhairlace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color blending for skin tones, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a soft, atmospheric background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and shawl, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle gradations of tone.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, highlights, and shadows, as well as the lace collar.
step 06
Add the shawl, paying attention to its drape and the decorative border.
step 07
Refine the hair, creating soft, flowing curls and adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

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

secondary · raw umber · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create the dress color by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre and raw umber. The red shawl can be achieved with cadmium red and alizarin crimson.

techniques

·portrait painting
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of depth and dimension in the fabric folds.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall harmony.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red, yellow ochre, raw umber, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife