plate no. 7087

Portrait of the Baroness Cecilie von Eskeles

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresschairhatjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form.

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 composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 04
Refine the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Work on the dress, rendering the folds and highlights with careful attention to light and shadow.
step 06
Add details such as the jewelry, hat, and books.
step 07
Glaze layers of color to enhance depth and richness.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Mix various greens by combining viridian green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create dark shadows. Add titanium white to create lighter values.

techniques