plate no. 1270

Portrait of Princess Catherine Alekseevny Vasilchikova

oil, paperRealismportraitportraitwomandressfigurejewelryfan

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, figure, and dress.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the accessories such as the jewelry and fan.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the dress color by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of ultramarine blue. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background.

techniques