plate no. 1478

The Actress as Cleopatra (Mercedes de Cordoba, artist's wife)

Arthur Beecher Carles, 1914

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurejewelrydresscurtainsheadpiece

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and rendering of fabric and jewelry. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through color and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, dress, background, and jewelry.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress and jewelry, focusing on the textures and patterns.
step 05
Work on the background, creating depth and atmosphere with layers of color.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, ensuring a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, titanium white, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the blues by mixing ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of other colors. The greens in the jewelry are achieved by mixing blues and yellows.

techniques