plate no. 5704

Portrait of Madame Charles-Louis Trudaine

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresshairfabricchair

some experience helpful

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 subtle value changes and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of red and brown, varying the tones slightly.
step 03
Establish the main values of the dress and shawl, using dark and light tones respectively.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the hair, using small, directional brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the dress and shawl, including folds and highlights.
step 07
Paint the blue sash, focusing on the way the fabric drapes and folds.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final details.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of red and brown for the background by combining red ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of black. Create skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown.

techniques

·portraiture
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·fabric rendering
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Making the background too uniform and flat.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: red ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife