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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, Nurse and dog, Ray Smith

Nurse and dog

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Medicine lesson, Ray Smith

Medicine lesson

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Hero, Yohan Storti

Hero

Yohan Storti

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€380

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

€888

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

€1,000

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

€280

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Fritz Zolnhofer

Untitled

Fritz Zolnhofer

Fine Art Drawings - 52 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€3,600

Fine Art Drawings, Intribe, Ofobuike Okudoh

Intribe

Ofobuike Okudoh

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

€5,500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Untitled

Ernest Salvadó

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

€444

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Gerard Sala

Untitled

Gerard Sala

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 32.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 12.8 inch

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, Ballerina, Isabelle Hirtzig

Ballerina

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€95

Fine Art Drawings, Energy, Kamsar Ohanyan

Energy

Kamsar Ohanyan

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

€320

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

€64,919

Fine Art Drawings, Séraphin, Dominique Pourchet

Séraphin

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€195

Fine Art Drawings, Isabelle, Bences

Isabelle

Bences

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Insolente foret, Elsa Ohana

Insolente foret

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 80.5 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Levels, Johnathan Ball

Levels

Johnathan Ball

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 inch

€2,319

Fine Art Drawings, Summer Time, Giusy Lauriola

Summer Time

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.8 x 0 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Giusy Lauriola

Woman

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 14.8 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Noi, Giusy Lauriola

Noi

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.8 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Waiemea Angels, Kosta Kulundzic

Waiemea Angels

Kosta Kulundzic

Fine Art Drawings - 150 x 110 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 59.1 x 43.3 x 2 inch

€4,000

Fine Art Drawings, The Hunger, Gabriele Galantara

The Hunger

Gabriele Galantara

Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 11 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.7 x 4.3 x 0 inch

€280

Fine Art Drawings, Chaman, Hélène Lagnieu

Chaman

Hélène Lagnieu

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Kulture Klash, Edward Zelinsky

Kulture Klash

Edward Zelinsky

Fine Art Drawings - 45.7 x 61 x 0.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 24 x 0.3 inch

€441

Fine Art Drawings, Frank N. Stein, Edward Zelinsky

Frank N. Stein

Edward Zelinsky

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 38.1 x 0.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 15 x 0.3 inch

€301

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

€135

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Margaux Fontaine

Sans titre

Margaux Fontaine

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans Titre

Meteo Meteo

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

€105

Fine Art Drawings, Lee Miller, Damien Berrard

Lee Miller

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Untitled

Ernest Salvadó

Fine Art Drawings - 82 x 54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 32.3 x 21.3 inch

€444

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages I, Arancha Tejedor

Personnages I

Arancha Tejedor

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 8, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 8

Davide Cicolani

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

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 6, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 6

Davide Cicolani

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

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Stop, Shota Imerlishvili

Stop

Shota Imerlishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 86 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33.9 x 0 inch

€7,000

Fine Art Drawings, Mange ta main, Brigitte Derbigny

Mange ta main

Brigitte Derbigny

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€300 €270

Fine Art Drawings, The Castellan, Florisa Cordova

The Castellan

Florisa Cordova

Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 14 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 5.5 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Miroir, Michaël Brack

Miroir

Michaël Brack

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

€480

Fine Art Drawings, Restez magique, Moustache Bleue

Restez magique

Moustache Bleue

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

€95

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

€150

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

€85

Fine Art Drawings, Esclave, Herve Malcom Thomas

Esclave

Herve Malcom Thomas

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€180

Fine Art Drawings, Tête, Herve Malcom Thomas

Tête

Herve Malcom Thomas

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€180

Fine Art Drawings, Retrouvailles, Maï

Retrouvailles

Maï

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Lever les yeux, Maï

Lever les yeux

Maï

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

€350

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Painting, No Need To Hide, tizlu

No Need To Hide

tizlu

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,180

Fine Art Drawings, We Need You!, tizlu

We Need You!

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,600

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

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

€800

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.