plate no. 8820

The Prisoner

Evelyn De Morgan, 1908

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfigurewindowlandscapedressheadscarfcurtain

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and drapery. It also offers practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and the placement of the window.
step 02
Establish the background colors, starting with the wall and the landscape seen through the window.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure's dress and headscarf, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, using thin layers of paint to build up the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the headscarf, including the pattern and the pearls.
step 06
Paint the peacock feather on the shoulder, carefully rendering the intricate details.
step 07
Refine the hands and jewelry, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall color balance.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · viridian

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and blue. The dress color can be created by mixing ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson, adjusting the ratio to achieve the desired shade.

techniques