plate no. 6522

Portrait of Antonietta Negroni Prati Morosini

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresschairflowersinterior

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin blocking in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the dress.
step 04
Develop the form of the face, paying close attention to the subtle value changes.
step 05
Refine the details of the dress, including the lace and ruffles.
step 06
Add details to the chair, focusing on the texture and ornamentation.
step 07
Paint the flowers, capturing their delicate forms and colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Yellow ochre

secondary · Alizarin crimson · Burnt umber · Ivory black

Mix Prussian blue and titanium white for the dress, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to adjust the hue. Use alizarin crimson and white for the roses, and burnt umber and yellow ochre for the chair.

techniques

·Portrait sketching
·Glazing
·Blending
·Fabric rendering
·Chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong
→Overworking the details
→Creating muddy colors
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Titanium white, Yellow ochre, Alizarin crimson, Burnt umber, Ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags