plate no. 6161

The Right Honourable Selina, Countess of Huntingdon (1707–1791), Foundress and Benefactress

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingbookheadwearframe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of tone to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, book, and frame.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and book, focusing on accurate value relationships.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value that define the form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the lace and folds, using a combination of layering and blending techniques.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the book and frame.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious composition.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the colors and add a subtle sheen.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Muted blues and greens for the clothing can be created by mixing ultramarine blue with white, yellow ochre, and a touch of black.

techniques