plate no. 7921

Portrait of Praskovia Vorontsova

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitchildfigureclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and creating soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the oval composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone, blending smoothly.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and clothing with base colors.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and highlights.
step 07
Add the sash, carefully blending the colors to create a soft transition.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and refine details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use small amounts of red and blue to adjust the warmth and coolness of the tones. The background is a mix of black and raw umber.

techniques