plate no. 9812
Portrait of Ginevra Benci
Leonardo da Vinci, 1474
experienced study
Recreating this painting will develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle blending for skin tones, and rendering fine details like hair. Students will also learn to create atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a neutral color.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's skin tones.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create the curls.
- step 06
Refine the clothing and background details, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Add the final details, such as the eyes, lips, and jewelry.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the tones and add depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix browns and blacks for the dark areas.
techniques
- ·sfumato
- ·glazing
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face.
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.
- →Getting lost in the details of the hair and losing the overall form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·damar varnish
- ·medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will aid in blending.
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