plate no. 1894

Woman with a candlestick

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfigurewindowinteriorlightshadowdoorway

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of chiaroscuro and how to create a sense of depth using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering subtle tonal variations within a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the window, figure, and doorway.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the areas of light with a thin wash of yellow ochre and white.
step 04
Gradually build up the tones in the shadows, using mixtures of brown, black, and a touch of blue.
step 05
Refine the details of the figure, paying attention to the way the light falls on her.
step 06
Add the highlights on the window frame and the floor, using pure white.
step 07
Blend the edges of the light and shadow to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details, such as the texture of the curtains and the floorboards.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · Prussian blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the subtle grays and browns by mixing burnt umber, ivory black, and white in varying proportions. Add a touch of Prussian blue to cool down the shadows.

techniques