plate no. 9643

Portrait of Madame Morrisson

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureclothingheadpiecelacejewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle tonal variations in skin. It also provides practice in painting details like lace and jewelry.

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, shoulders, and headpiece.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 06
Add the details of the lace collar and jewelry.
step 07
Carefully render the headpiece, capturing the texture and form of the flowers.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson or ultramarine blue for shadows. Achieve the dark background by mixing ivory black and raw umber.

techniques