plate no. 2257

Portrait of the Artist's Wife Lucrezia

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating subtle value gradations to model form. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and achieving a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

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 head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Use subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Paint the hair and clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery. Use darker values to create depth and shadow.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of light and dimension.
step 07
Blend the edges of the forms to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details, such as the jewelry and any subtle textures.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white. Use small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Darken shadows with ivory black and burnt umber.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·blending
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using too much color in the skin tones.
→Not blending the edges of the forms sufficiently.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags