plate no. 6145

Portrait of two sisters (possibly from the Gerngross or Friedmann families)

oilRealismportraitfiguresportraitchildrendressesfurnitureflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmospheric perspective using tonal values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figures and furniture.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest values in the painting to create a tonal range.
step 03
Begin blocking in the background, focusing on creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Develop the forms of the figures, paying attention to the folds and highlights in their dresses.
step 05
Refine the facial features, capturing the likeness and expressions of the subjects.
step 06
Add details to the furniture and flowers, using subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition, ensuring that the focal points are well-defined and balanced.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre

Use ivory black and titanium white to create a range of grays. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm the grays for the skin tones and furniture.

techniques