plate no. 2058

Portrait of Margaret Wyatt, Lady Lee

oil, wood, temperaNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelryheadwearrenaissance

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 subtle value gradations for realistic skin tones and clothing folds.

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 basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, using thin layers of paint and gradually building up the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin painting the clothing, focusing on the overall shapes and folds before adding details.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the subtle nuances of expression.
step 06
Add the details of the jewelry and other accessories, using fine brushes to capture the intricate designs.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add the text 'ETATIS' and 'SVAE 34' in gold lettering.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · gold · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and ivory black for the dark background and clothing shadows. Use raw sienna and titanium white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the gold details.

techniques