plate no. 9973

Portrait of Madam Verdier

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfigureclothingheadhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using value and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted brown, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone flesh color.
step 04
Begin to build up the highlights and shadows on the face, paying close attention to the planes of the face.
step 05
Add the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the hair, using a mix of grays and whites to create highlights and shadows.
step 07
Block in the clothing with dark browns and blacks, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Refine the details and edges of the painting, ensuring a smooth transition between values.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of flesh tones by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. The background is achieved with a dark mix of burnt umber and black, lightened with small amounts of white.

techniques