plate no. 0192

Portrait of the third wife

Giovanni Fattori, 1905

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurechairwindowlandscapeinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as practice techniques for rendering fabric and creating depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and window.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, including the wall, window frame, and landscape outside.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the figure's dress, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 04
Begin layering in the mid-tones and highlights on the face, gradually building up the form.
step 05
Add details to the hands, including the ring, and refine the facial features.
step 06
Work on the details of the chair, including the lace trim and the red upholstery.
step 07
Refine the landscape visible through the window, adding details to the trees and hills.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Add ultramarine blue to darken shadows.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags