
plate no. 8395
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as understanding how to depict different textures in clothing.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions and placement of the figures.
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, including the architecture and sky.
Establish the base skin tones for each figure, paying attention to the light source and shadows.
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create depth and form.
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery, and capturing the different textures.
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of each person.
Refine the background and add any remaining details, such as the nuts on the ground.
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Create darker tones by adding ivory black or ultramarine blue. The red drapery is achieved by layering cadmium red with glazes of burnt umber for depth.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein

Portrait of Sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon working at the bust of Voltaire
Marie-Gabrielle Capet

The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXI. Temple of Antonius and Faustina.
Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Portrait of Louis d'Orleans
Franz Xaver Winterhalter

Rooftops in the shadows
Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes

The Schmadribach Falls
Joseph Anton Koch

A Scene from 'As You Like It' by William Shakespeare
William Hamilton

Portrait of Klementyna Ostrowska Née Sanguszko
Vincenzo Camuccini

Self-Portrait
Anton Raphael Mengs