The combination of red and black chalk was particularly popular for portrait drawings in the eighteenth century. Dance-Holland has followed the tradition of using black chalk for the majority of the sitter and reserving the red chalk for details such as the lips and cheeks. This provides definition as well as additional depth and warmth to the drawing. He has kept the points of the chalks quite sharp, allowing him to build up fine details. Subtle modelling has been created by drawing parallel lines of different widths and varying distances apart.
