plate no. 1169

Young Girl in Rococo Dress Frightened by a Peacock

Gerda Wegener, 1918

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingfigurepeacockgardenstairsdressurns

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly the drapery and proportions of a complex dress, as well as color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone and hue.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, peacock, stairs, and background elements.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying attention to the proportions of the figure and the details of the peacock's feathers.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of light gray or beige to the background to establish the base tone.
step 04
Begin painting the figure's dress, starting with the light blue areas and then adding the darker blue stripes.
step 05
Paint the peacock, using a mix of blues and greens for the body and feathers.
step 06
Add details to the background elements, such as the urns and foliage.
step 07
Refine the details of the figure's face, hair, and accessories.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · light blue · dark blue · light green · beige

secondary · red · brown · gray

Mix light blue by adding white to a cerulean or phthalo blue. Achieve various greens by mixing blue and yellow, adjusting the ratios for different shades. Use browns and grays to create shadows and depth.

techniques