plate no. 5556

Young woman holding a fruit dish

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurefruitdraperyportraitjewelryhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, drapery painting, and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth through value and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, fruit dish, and major folds in the drapery.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone gray.
step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the figure, fruit, and drapery using a darker value of the local color.
step 04
Begin layering in highlights on the skin, fruit, and fabric, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the fruit, such as highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Work on the drapery, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of depth and movement.
step 08
Add final details such as jewelry and refine edges.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray for the background by combining ivory black and titanium white. Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the blue drapery by mixing ultramarine blue with ivory black and titanium white for highlights.

techniques