plate no. 8155

Portrait of Countess Marie Ernestine Esterhazy Starhemberg

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurewomandressjewelryhat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering delicate fabrics and textures. It also offers practice in creating a soft, diffused light effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the oval composition and the figure's basic proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the figure, focusing on the dress, hat, and face.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the details of the dress, hat, and jewelry, using soft blending and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add the book and papers, paying attention to their perspective and texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring a harmonious balance of colors and values.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of ultramarine blue. The dress is a mix of white and ultramarine blue, with subtle variations created by adding small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber. The background is a mix of burnt umber, ivory black, and white.

techniques