plate no. 2320

Portrait of Anne Marie Louise Thélusson, Countess of Sorcy

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresschairshawlhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, chair, and major folds of the dress and shawl.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted gray-brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, dress, shawl, and chair, focusing on accurate value relationships.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle shifts in color and value to create a realistic effect.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest individual curls and strands.
step 06
Work on the fabric folds of the dress and shawl, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and depth.
step 07
Add the details of the chair and the patterned border of the shawl.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a harmonious and balanced image.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber. Create the dress and shawl colors by mixing white with small amounts of umber, ochre, and red. The background is a mix of black, umber, and white.

techniques