plate no. 8254

Portrait of Louise-antoinette-scholastique Guéhéneuc, Madame La Maréchale Lannes, Duchesse De Montebello, with Her Children

oilNeoclassicismportraitfiguresportraitlandscapetreesarchitectureclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad washes of color, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, paying attention to proportions and poses.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the faces, focusing on accurate rendering of features and skin tones.
step 05
Develop the drapery and clothing, paying attention to folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements and foreground foliage.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Create the muted greens of the landscape by mixing yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and white.

techniques