plate no. 1820

Portrait of Madame Bruyere

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitwomandressjewelryhairfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main values for the skin tones, dress, and hair.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 05
Define the features of the face, focusing on accurate placement and proportions.
step 06
Add details to the dress, jewelry, and hair, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust values as needed to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Black is used for the dress, with subtle variations achieved by mixing in small amounts of other colors. The background is a mix of umber, white, and a touch of blue.

techniques