plate no. 1447

Sarah Emlen Roberts, Mrs. Harry Ingersoll

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairjewelryfabric

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones, capturing likeness, and depicting fabric folds. It also provides practice in subtle color blending and creating soft edges.

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, paying attention to the pose and composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, focusing on the subtle gradations.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, dress, and fabric.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the dress, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the jewelry and other small details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Black is used sparingly, mostly for shadows in the dress. The background is a mix of white, blue, and a touch of umber.

techniques