plate no. 4971

Portrait of Mme Latouce

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitwomandresshairfiguredrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background, and drapery.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and subtle color variations.
step 04
Develop the folds and shadows in the dress and drapery, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Add details to the hair and jewelry, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create darker shadows. Mix white with a touch of red for highlights on the dress.

techniques