plate no. 0960

Young Girl Holding a Monkey

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremonkeyflowersdresshair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and delicate fabrics. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of both human and animal subjects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, monkey, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones using layers of subtle color variations.
step 04
Define the features of the face and monkey with careful attention to detail.
step 05
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add the flowers and other decorative elements, paying attention to their delicate forms.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall color balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and yellow ochre, adjusting the proportions to create subtle variations. Use ultramarine blue and white for the blue fabric, adding a touch of black for shadows.

techniques