plate no. 6014

Portrait of Cristina Trivulzio Belgiojoso

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredressbackgroundframejewelry

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 depth and form using 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 and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face, dress, and background.
step 03
Begin blocking in the local colors of the skin, hair, dress, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the folds and drapery of the dress, using highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the background, including the pattern and the frame.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details, such as jewelry and subtle highlights.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ivory black

Mix various shades of red and brown for the background. Use white and small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the skin tones. Mix white with touches of black and blue for the dress.

techniques