plate no. 5474

Portrait of Henriette von Zerbsten

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitwomandresshatjewelryfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and subtle value gradations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the dress and skin tones with broad strokes.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions in the skin.
step 05
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the details of the dress, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 07
Paint the hair and hat, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · gold

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for darker areas. Create the gold accents by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of brown and white for highlights.

techniques

·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin and clothing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, raw umber)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags