plate no. 4823

Portrait of the Marchesa Casati

Leon Bakst, 1912

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurehairfaceeyes

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering realistic facial features and creating subtle tonal variations using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and expression of a subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main features: eyes, nose, mouth, and hairline, paying close attention to their placement and size relative to each other.
step 03
Begin shading the face, focusing on the areas of shadow to create depth and volume.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal values gradually, creating smooth transitions between light and dark areas.
step 05
Render the hair, paying attention to the direction of the strands and the way they catch the light.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, adding highlights and shadows to create a realistic effect.
step 07
Soften edges and blend tones where necessary to create a cohesive and natural-looking portrait.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall impression of the portrait.

color palette

primary · graphite · white

secondary · gray

Varying pressure and layering of graphite creates different shades of gray.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·tonal shading
·blending
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions can distort the likeness of the subject.
→Overworking the drawing can lead to a muddy or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to establish a clear light source can result in a flat and unconvincing portrait.
→Neglecting the details of the eyes can make the portrait appear lifeless.