plate no. 6260

Portrait of Mrs. Howe

Alfred Stevens, 1900

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresscouchwomanindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds and textures. It also provides practice in limited palette color mixing and creating depth through subtle value changes.

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 and couch using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of burnt sienna and red across the canvas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the dress, couch, and background.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the figure, paying close attention to the facial features and skin tones.
step 05
Add details to the dress, such as the folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Work on the background and couch, using loose brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the jewelry and the fan.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the various red hues by mixing cadmium red with varying amounts of burnt sienna and titanium white. Use ivory black sparingly to create shadows and darker tones. Yellow ochre can be added to the skin tones for warmth.

techniques