plate no. 4601

Princess Beatrice

Philip de Laszlo, 1926

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurefacejewelryhairprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting subtle light and shadow and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders, paying attention to the profile.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle gradations of tone.
step 05
Add details to the hair, jewelry, and clothing, using small brushstrokes to create texture and detail.
step 06
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 07
Add highlights to the jewelry and eyes to create focal points.
step 08
Refine edges and blend transitions for a polished look.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, umber, red, and yellow ochre. Use blue and black to create cool shadows. Add small amounts of red to warm up areas like the cheeks and lips.

techniques