plate no. 0468

Portrait of Margaretha de Geer, Wife of Jacob Trip

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingchairruffold woman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in painting complex textures like the pleated ruff.

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 and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the clothing and chair, using mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and create depth.
step 05
Start building up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Carefully render the details of the ruff, using highlights and shadows to create the illusion of pleats.
step 07
Add final details to the face, hands, and clothing.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining ivory black, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Use titanium white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of cadmium red light and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques