plate no. 1381

Portrait of Madame Antoine Crozat, Marquise du Châtel, née Marguerite le Gendre d'Armeny (1670-1742), half-length, seated, in a lace trimmed yellow and white dress and a bonnet, a fan in her right hand

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslacefanbonnet

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering fabrics and lace details, as well as understanding subtle color variations to create depth and form. It also provides practice in creating a realistic skin tone and capturing the likeness of a subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and cape, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Develop the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Start building up the details of the dress, focusing on the lace and fabric folds.
step 06
Add the details of the bonnet and fan.
step 07
Refine the details and edges, ensuring a smooth transition between values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for the dress. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for the cape. Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques