plate no. 5594

Queen Marie of Romania

Philip de Laszlo, 1936

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredressjewelryroyalveil

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering delicate fabrics and textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the dress, veil, and skin tones, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress and jewelry, using smaller brushes to add highlights and texture.
step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands to bring the portrait to life.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and white for the blue sash, and mix browns with touches of blue and yellow for the dress.

techniques