plate no. 9896

Portrait of Catherine II the Great

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelryhairhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures like fabric, pearls, and metal.

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 basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a muted green-gray tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas of the face.
step 04
Paint the clothing and jewelry, paying attention to the folds and details.
step 05
Refine the facial features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Work on the hair, capturing the texture and highlights.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue sash color by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black. The jewelry uses white with small amounts of yellow and brown.

techniques