plate no. 7683

Portrait of Jean Abercromby, Mrs Morison

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslacepearlsbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as rendering delicate fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral tone, gradually building up the lighter areas around the figure.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the dress and lace, focusing on the overall shapes and values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create a realistic and luminous effect.
step 05
Add details to the dress and lace, paying attention to the texture and patterns.
step 06
Paint the pearls, capturing their highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, a touch of alizarin crimson, and a small amount of burnt umber. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre to soften the color. Use ivory black to darken the background and create shadows.

techniques