plate no. 9396

Portrait of Maria Salviati

oil, woodMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfigurenunbookclothinghead covering

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in depicting drapery and creating a sense of depth through value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, head covering, and book.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using thin washes.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the head covering, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 06
Paint the book and the dark clothing, maintaining a sense of depth and form.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Use thin washes of raw umber and ivory black for shadows.

techniques