plate no. 2319

The Marquise de Pezay, and the Marquise de Rougé with Her Sons Alexis and Adrien

oil, canvasRococoportraitfiguresportraitlandscapeclothingchildrensky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering fabrics with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background landscape and sky.
step 03
Establish the base tones for the skin, hair, and clothing of each figure.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create form and volume in the faces and hands.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Refine the background details, adding depth and atmosphere to the landscape.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the figures, such as the eyes, hair, and jewelry.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a soft, luminous effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium yellow light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Create the blue dress with ultramarine blue and white, adding touches of alizarin crimson for depth. Mix greens for the landscape using yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and ivory black.

techniques