plate no. 8718

Portrait of Princess Augusta of Great Britain, Later Duchess of Brunswick

pastelRococoportraitportraitfiguredresshairfaceprincess

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in subtle color blending, capturing delicate skin tones, and rendering soft textures. It also provides practice in achieving accurate proportions and likeness in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background color with a mid-tone gray or brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, focusing on overall values.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions in the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise strokes.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the lace, pearls, and fabric patterns.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · rose madder · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of rose madder; use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create subtle grays for shadows and background.

techniques