plate no. 5831

Pretty as a picture

Vittorio Matteo Corcos, 1900

oilRealismportraitportraitwomanhatdressprofileflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice creating textures with brushstrokes.

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, hat, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background with loose, blended strokes of gray and blue.
step 03
Block in the main skin tones, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Begin defining the features of the face, paying attention to the profile.
step 05
Paint the hat, starting with the base color and adding details like the ribbon and flowers.
step 06
Render the dress with dark, textured strokes to create depth and form.
step 07
Add highlights to the skin, hat, and dress to create a sense of light.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to achieve a cohesive and realistic look.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · cerulean blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The blue in the hat is created with ultramarine and cerulean, lightened with white. Dark areas use burnt umber and black.

techniques