plate no. 5320

Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

Charles-Andre van Loo (Carle van Loo), 1760

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredressfabricroyalhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, fabric rendering, and achieving subtle color variations. It also provides practice in capturing realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the skin, dress, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features and add details to the hair and jewelry.
step 05
Develop the folds and textures of the dress, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the background and other elements of the composition.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to create depth and luminosity.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow, and crimson with small amounts of umber or sienna. Create the dress colors by mixing white with yellow and blue, adjusting the ratios for different shades. Use glazes of crimson and umber to create depth in the background.

techniques