plate no. 0298

Woman Playing the Virginal

oil, panelBaroquegenre paintingfiguresinteriorvirginalmonkeyfloorlandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and drapery, as well as creating depth and atmosphere in an interior scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the virginal.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the details of the figures, starting with the faces and hands.
step 04
Work on the drapery, using layers of paint to create the folds and shadows.
step 05
Add the details of the virginal, including the keys and the decorative elements.
step 06
Paint the background, including the wall, the floor, and the figures in the doorway.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the highlights and shadows, and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray for the background and shadows. Use red and white to create the flesh tones. Mix blue and yellow to create greens for the landscape painting on the virginal.

techniques