plate no. 3074

Portrait of René, Cécile and Louise Franchomme

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitfiguresportraitchildrenmusical instrumentclothinghair

some experience helpful

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

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 figures and the instrument, paying attention to their relative positions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin tones, clothing, and instrument, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, using subtle variations of color to create form and dimension.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Develop the details of the clothing, adding folds and wrinkles to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Paint the musical instrument, focusing on the details of the wood grain and the shape of the scroll.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows. Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the background and instrument.

techniques