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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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Fine Art Drawings, Hey Coeur !, Noël Granger

Hey Coeur !

Noël Granger

Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 9.8 inch

$120

Fine Art Drawings, Good Bye, Isabelle Hirtzig

Good Bye

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$114

Fine Art Drawings, Sans, Djess Erdeven

Sans

Djess Erdeven

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$1,444

Fine Art Drawings, Sans, Djess Erdeven

Sans

Djess Erdeven

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$1,444

Fine Art Drawings, Selfie, Isabelle Hirtzig

Selfie

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$162

Fine Art Drawings, 02-Untitled, Aditi Lago

02-Untitled

Aditi Lago

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 39.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 15.6 x 0 inch

$1,444

Fine Art Drawings, Unmasked II, Ofobuike Okudoh

Unmasked II

Ofobuike Okudoh

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$3,489

Fine Art Drawings, Filled, Ofobuike Okudoh

Filled

Ofobuike Okudoh

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 49.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.5 inch

$3,248

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (2), Mansour El Habre

Untitled (2)

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$1,900

Fine Art Drawings, Zavatta, Damien Berrard

Zavatta

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$241 $180

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Samaneh Atef

Sans titre

Samaneh Atef

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 27.6 inch

$3,248

Fine Art Drawings, Franco, Fred Borghesi

Franco

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,609

Fine Art Drawings, Whatever man, Fred Borghesi

Whatever man

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$3,970

Fine Art Drawings, Man in blue, Fred Borghesi

Man in blue

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,609

Fine Art Drawings, The Frowns N2, Fred Borghesi

The Frowns N2

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,609

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Shout N2, Fred Borghesi

Silent Shout N2

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,609

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Shout, Fred Borghesi

Silent Shout

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,609

Fine Art Drawings, Shadow N2, Fred Borghesi

Shadow N2

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,128

Fine Art Drawings, Patience, Fred Borghesi

Patience

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$3,369

Fine Art Drawings, Amoureux, Moustache Bleue

Amoureux

Moustache Bleue

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 100 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.2 inch

$265

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Elena Paredes

Untitled

Elena Paredes

Fine Art Drawings - 63 x 47.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.8 x 18.7 x 0.4 inch

$2,166

Fine Art Drawings, TT25, Stefano Mazzolini

TT25

Stefano Mazzolini

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$481 $433

Fine Art Drawings, CSTDF, Stefano Mazzolini

CSTDF

Stefano Mazzolini

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$481 $433

Fine Art Drawings, Enemy , Rossella Mercedes

Enemy 

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$108

Fine Art Drawings, Love, Isabelle Hirtzig

Love

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$180

Fine Art Drawings, Rehearsal, Isabelle Hirtzig

Rehearsal

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$102

Fine Art Drawings, Conflict, Tomo Sakurai

Conflict

Tomo Sakurai

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$5,053

Fine Art Drawings, Amazone, Mathilde André

Amazone

Mathilde André

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 28.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

$301

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 5, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 5

Davide Cicolani

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$1,323

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 2

Davide Cicolani

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,323

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bazooka Joe

Sans titre

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 12 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 4.7 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre (1), Bazooka Joe

Sans titre (1)

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bazooka Joe

Sans titre

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 16.1 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bazooka Joe

Sans titre

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bazooka Joe

Sans titre

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre (1), Bazooka Joe

Sans titre (1)

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Leo Guida

Portrait

Leo Guida

Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 12.2 x 0 inch

$553

Fine Art Drawings, After, Damien Berrard

After

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

$481

Fine Art Drawings, La folie, Damien Berrard

La folie

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

$180 $144

Fine Art Drawings, Anuti-1, Atom Hovhanesyan

Anuti-1

Atom Hovhanesyan

Fine Art Drawings - 55.9 x 46.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 18.4 x 0 inch

$70,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Oswald Aulestia

Untitled

Oswald Aulestia

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 32.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 12.8 inch

$1,068

Fine Art Drawings, Face 5, Edward Shahda

Face 5

Edward Shahda

Fine Art Drawings - 54 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.3 x 14.6 inch

$1,700

Fine Art Drawings, Face 3, Edward Shahda

Face 3

Edward Shahda

Fine Art Drawings - 54 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.3 x 14.6 inch

$1,700

Fine Art Drawings, Face 1, Edward Shahda

Face 1

Edward Shahda

Fine Art Drawings - 54 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.3 x 14.6 inch

$1,700

Fine Art Drawings, Conspiration, Zahra Zeinali

Conspiration

Zahra Zeinali

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

$3,008

Fine Art Drawings, J'aime la vie, Moustache Bleue

J'aime la vie

Moustache Bleue

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

$144

Fine Art Drawings, Venus, Roberto Cuccaro

Venus

Roberto Cuccaro

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 36.1 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

$1,564

Fine Art Drawings, Soliude, Roberto Cuccaro

Soliude

Roberto Cuccaro

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 36.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 14.4 x 0 inch

$1,684

Fine Art Drawings, Chronos, Silvia Cuello

Chronos

Silvia Cuello

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 27.6 inch

$1,203

Fine Art Drawings, Reverie, Silvia Cuello

Reverie

Silvia Cuello

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 12.2 inch

$337

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Discover the selection of our experts

Sculpture, König, Nando Kallweit

König

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture - 26 x 7 x 4 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 2.8 x 1.6 inch

$812

Painting, Orlando, Galya Popova

Orlando

Galya Popova

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,887

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

Print - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$962

Fine Art Drawings, Sun Day, tizlu

Sun Day

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,420 $1,136

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.

How to draw a portrait?
To create a portrait, start by sketching the main shapes of the face, respecting the proportions, then gradually detail the features and shadows. Use guidelines like the lines of the eyes, nose, and mouth for greater realism.
What is a drawing portrait?
A drawing portrait is an artistic representation of a person, focusing on their face and expression, created using drawing techniques such as pencil, charcoal, or ink. It captures the subject’s likeness, personality, and mood through line and shading.
What is the 4 8 8 method of drawing?
The 4 8 8 method of drawing involves dividing your subject into four main shapes, then breaking each into eight smaller parts, and refining each section in eight steps. This structured approach helps artists build accurate proportions and details progressively.
How to take a good portrait?
To create a good portrait, you need to capture the subject's expression and personality by paying attention to composition, lighting, and facial details. Choose an expressive gaze and a simple background to highlight the subject.