plate no. 7462

Portrait of Princess Zinaida Yusupova

Konstantin Makovsky, 1900

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredressjewelryveilhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in layering and glazing techniques to achieve subtle color variations and luminosity.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the skin, dress, and background using broad strokes.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the textures of the dress and veil using layering and scumbling techniques.
step 06
Add details to the jewelry and headdress, using small brushes and highlights.
step 07
Glaze over the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the luminosity.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Create the gold fabric by layering yellow ochre and burnt sienna, highlighting with titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for shadows.

techniques