plate no. 7171

Portrait of Diane de la Bouchère

Vittorio Matteo Corcos, 1903

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitwomandressflowerstablefur

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate fabrics and textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle color variations and soft lighting effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle variations in the purple fabric.
step 04
Begin refining the figure, starting with the face and hands, and gradually working down the body.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the dress and fur, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the flowers and other objects on the table, paying attention to their color and form.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · purple · raw umber

Achieve the subtle purples by mixing ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson with white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the yellow roses. Create the various shades of white for the dress and fur by adding small amounts of raw umber or ivory black.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·glazing
·scumbling
·soft blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Oversimplifying the colors and values.
→Failing to capture the delicate textures of the dress and fur.
→Making the background too distracting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, raw umber)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Painting medium (e.g., Liquin)