plate no. 8795

Portrait of Marie Louise of Orléans (1662–1689), Queen consort of Spain

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredresscurtainbookroyal

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and capturing the texture and details of clothing. It also offers practice in creating depth and form through careful value control.

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.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the dress and sleeves, paying attention to the overall form.
step 04
Begin layering in the details of the dress, using a combination of dark and light tones to create texture and pattern.
step 05
Work on the face, starting with a base layer of skin tone and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 06
Refine the details of the hands, book, and other accessories.
step 07
Add the red curtain with highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · gold

Mix various shades of skin tone using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Create the dress's gold patterns by mixing yellow ochre with small amounts of burnt umber and titanium white for highlights.

techniques