plate no. 9192

Portrait of Antoinette Elisabeth Marie d'Aguesseau, countess of Ségur

oilRococoportraitportraitwomanhatdressfeatherslace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending to create soft transitions.

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, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the skin, dress, hat, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, lace, and textures.
step 06
Add details to the hat, including the feathers and ribbons.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker shades of the dress and hat. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the lace.

techniques