plate no. 5027

Portrait of Maria Lugia de Tassis

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitwomandressruffjewelryfeather

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering complex fabrics and textures. It also provides practice in capturing subtle light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 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 layer of dark brown.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and hands using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color.
step 05
Block in the main colors of the dress and ruff, focusing on the overall shapes.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the stripes, lace, and folds, using fine brushes.
step 07
Render the ruff with delicate brushstrokes, capturing its texture and transparency.
step 08
Add final details to the jewelry, hair, and feather, refining the overall composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow light · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and brown. Use glazes of burnt sienna and ultramarine for shadows. Mix white with a touch of blue and yellow for the ruff.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering fabrics

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the delicate texture of the ruff.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Soft cloths