plate no. 5848

Portrait of Louis Philippe of Orléans

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitchilddresstoy horsedraperyplaying cards

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric textures, capturing realistic skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background drapery and the child's dress.
step 03
Focus on accurately capturing the skin tones of the face and hands, using thin layers of paint.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, paying attention to the lace and fabric folds.
step 05
Add the details of the toy horse and the playing cards, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the objects and figures.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the colors and create a smooth finish.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian · ultramarine blue

Achieve the subtle grays and greens by mixing white, black, and small amounts of yellow ochre, raw umber, viridian, and ultramarine blue. Skin tones are created with white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of raw umber.

techniques