plate no. 9864

Portrait of Catherine II of Russia

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelrycrownhistorical figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and capturing the texture and folds of fabric. It also provides practice in painting intricate details like jewelry.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval frame and the basic figure proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the dress and sash with light yellow ochre.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows on the face.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights in the fabric of the dress, using subtle color variations.
step 06
Carefully paint the details of the jewelry, including the crown and necklace.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add details to the hair.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · gold

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The dress color is primarily yellow ochre lightened with white, with subtle variations created by adding small amounts of umber or red.

techniques

·Blending
·Layering
·Glazing
·Chiaroscuro
·Rendering of fabric

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Creating muddy skin tones.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in fabric color.
→Getting the proportions of the face incorrect.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil