plate no. 2795

Portrait of Josephine de Beauharnais

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresshairfacewoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending to achieve realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the subject.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, and background.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, focusing on accurate rendering of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the drapery and clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 07
Refine the background, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows. Mix viridian with raw umber for the green dress.

techniques