plate no. 0145

The Infanta Maria Theresa, daughter of Philip IV of Spain

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehairclothingfacehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering complex textures like hair and fabric. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through careful value control.

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 head, hair, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the hair, including the curls and ornaments.
step 06
Refine the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Paint the clothing, adding subtle folds and highlights.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Hair color is a mix of umber, black, and white, with highlights added using yellow ochre. The white fabric is tinted with small amounts of blue and umber to create shadows.

techniques