Portrait Drawing for Sale
Portraiture has existed for many centuries. The Greeks produced portraits for funeral and religious rituals; they aimed to “bring back to life those who have passed away." In the Roman era, portraits were often reserved for the ruling figures of society; for example, a warrior would have his portrait painted to illustrate his bravery during a battle. In Europe, it is only during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance that Italian and Flemish painters started to practice the art of portraiture.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, painters created works commissioned by wealthy patrons. Painters sketched out preliminary freehand drawings, which were often then approved by the patron, before beginning to work on their oil paint or, later, watercolor. Facial features were sometimes improved to the detriment of realism, although some painters were known for their ability to reproduce their models' expressions. Some artists worked in great detail while others focussed more heavily on trying to capture the real personality of their model.
For much of its history, portrait not only told a story but it also conveyed a message of power, promoting a well-controlled image to the wider population and establishing the sitter's authority through its circulation. For example, Florentine elites would use paintings and drawings as a mean of controlling their image and establishing their authority. Portraits were a way for someone to live on long after their death. Today we find the faces of aristocracies and the European bourgeoisie in many museums, immortalized by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci or Rembrandt.
The results obtained through drawing depended largely on the tools and materials used. Red chalk was very popular (especially at the beginning of the 16th century) to represent the facial features and the warmth of the skin, while charcoal produced harder lines and pastel created a softer, colorful touch. Artists adapted their technique depending on the subject and the emotion they wanted to convey. The commercialisation of pencils in the nineteenth century made it a popular medium for artists and amateurs alike. Pencil art became more popular and the tool was often used for sketching portraits.
One thing is certain; capturing facial expressions is a demanding art form and the art of portraiture requires a lot of practice. Drawing a face down to its finest details may take hours to obtain the desired result: a protruding jaw, the shape of a skull, thick brows, smiling eyes, dilated pupils… Even more difficult, are children's portraits? It can be difficult to get them to stay still for long. The artist has to be skilled enough to immortalise these men, women and children full of life.
Gradually, sketched portraits became less and less realistic but increasingly daring and experimental in terms of colour. On Artsper, discover drawings by Jean Cocteau, Julien Calot, Alice de Miramon, Philippe Pasqua, Sabine Danzé, Bahareh Navabi and Stéphanie Stindel.
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D’après Le portrait de Christine Boyer
Marion Chombart de Lauwe
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,111
Lottia
Chloe Marsters
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 28.7 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.3 x 0.4 inch
$994
Girl with shoulder
Badriot
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch
$1,053
Africa II
Viktor Goryaev
Fine Art Drawings - 110 x 70 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 43.3 x 27.6 x 2 inch
$2,925
Africa I
Viktor Goryaev
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 110 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 43.3 x 2 inch
$2,925
Sands of time
Viktor Goryaev
Fine Art Drawings - 105 x 75 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 41.3 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch
$2,808
Innocence
Erdna André
Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 11 x 0.4 inch
$526
Belgian Marilyn
Noir Artist
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 60 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 23.6 inch
$2,574
Monster Black 1
Bault
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 13 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 5.1 x 0 inch
$257
Doule Thought D07
Tehos
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$526
Homme et abeille
Chahrazed Fekih
Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 19 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 7.5 x 0 inch
$351
Interconnectivité I
Chahrazed Fekih
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 10 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 3.9 x 0.1 inch
$351
Homenagem Amália Rodrigues
Paulo Lionetti
Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,123
Portrait d'Anne
Meriame Louattani
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$292
Rêver de toi
Audrey Faivre
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 inch
$363
La bulle
Valérie Abadie
Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 12 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.7 x 4.7 x 0 inch
$328
Clic II
Marion Chombart de Lauwe
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 24 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch
$409
César Archibald
Agathe Lemaire Thalazac
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 120 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch
$5,850
La désespérée
Fabienne Bonneau (Fablues)
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 5.9 x 0 inch
$211
Etude Rimbaud 2
Gabor Breznay
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$468
On the way
Noe Borst
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 22 x 0 inch
$292
Redoutable / dread
Noe Borst
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$292
Réminiscence
Valérie Abadie
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 26 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch
$456
Poutine go to war
Blankman
Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$175
Dame en fleur
Flo. M
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch
$328
Sigisbée
Agathe Lemaire Thalazac
Fine Art Drawings - 131 x 101 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 51.6 x 39.8 x 1 inch
$7,020
Italie
Clara Castagné
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$936
Impossible behaviour - 12
Galya Popova
Fine Art Drawings - 90 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,872
Sin título
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$643
La tristesse de la vie
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Guardian
Kane Mclay
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch
$690
Tether
Kane Mclay
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$690
Flux and Flora
Kane Mclay
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$690
Helios In Boots
Richard Lindner
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$702
Divinité 7
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Divinité III (7)
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Dittico tratto da la delicatezza delle radici che emersero
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch
$854
Divinité 9
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Divinité 11
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Divinité 12
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Divinité 19
Dasz Panda
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$936
Fight
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$702
Figures
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 12 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 4.7 x 0.1 inch
$608
Untitled
Francesc Genovés
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$649
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Etudes pour un paysage idéal n°3
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$702
Etude
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$702
Looking at them thinking of them
Gabrielle Rul
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch
$468
Isolde - Yseult
Catherine Clare
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$936
Sitting woman (a tribute to Picasso)
Dr. Love
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$105
Nude with cigarette
Barbara Kroll
Fine Art Drawings - 39.9 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch
$360
The Couple
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 20.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.1 x 0.1 inch
$866
Que lit-elle ?
Francine Van Hove
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch
$3,393
Pupille
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$585
La delicatezza delle radici che emersero (2 works)
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 80 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch
$807
À l'écoute de l'étoile
Guillaume Cavalier
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch
$1,164
Lovers
Federica Frati
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$936
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,808
A! Noel
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,404
The Apple Is Taken
Kirill Postovit
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$339
Yves Saint Laurent
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 18 x 0.1 inch
$1,000
Amour androgyne
Anthea Missy
Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 48 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$585
La felina
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$643
Camuflaje
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$643
Spicy
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$643
La pescadora
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$643
Neo Deco 08-09-24
Corné Akkers
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,656
Sleeping Girl
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 13 x 0 inch
$1,287
Sans titre
Philippe Pasqua
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$3,510
Sans titre
Philippe Pasqua
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$3,510
La Femme Brune
Sophie Duplain
Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 25 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch
$585
Femme et son ombre
Zafi
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,638
Géraldine
Lorette Le Brestec
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$936
Untitled
Francesc Genovés
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$649
Dénudée (Unclad)
Sayeed Momoh
Fine Art Drawings - 74.9 x 64.8 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 25.5 x 1 inch
$2,250
Femme au visage vert
Zafi
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,872
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
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tizlu
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch
$1,872
Top Elite Faschions
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
$643
Degas Danseur de Ballet
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 44 x 16 x 20 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 6.3 x 7.9 inch
$1,147
Love and Flowers - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Women
Taiwo Odejinmi
Painting - 91.4 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 24 x 1 inch
$2,450
The Wrinkles of the city, La Havana, Antonio Cruz Gordillo
JR
Print - 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,223 $2,001
Maiko in Springtime Kyoto
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,842
Mask geometric - Geometric art
Tarek
Painting - 73 x 54 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch
$2,691
Need help with Portrait Drawing ?
What are some tips for drawing a realistic portrait?
To draw a realistic portrait, start with a good reference photo, pay attention to proportions, use shading to create depth, and focus on capturing the subject's unique features. Practice regularly and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
How do you choose the right materials for portrait drawing?
When choosing materials for portrait drawing, consider the surface texture, color, and weight of the paper, as well as the type and quality of the pencils or charcoal. Opt for high-quality materials that allow for precision and detail, and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your style and technique.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when drawing a portrait?
When drawing a portrait, it's important to avoid common mistakes such as not paying attention to proportions, neglecting to capture the subject's unique features, and using too much or too little shading. Additionally, it's important to take breaks and step back to assess the overall composition.