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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, Untitled, Mohamed Lekleti

Untitled

Mohamed Lekleti

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

$2,340

Fine Art Drawings, Scuba Diving, Gouzy

Scuba Diving

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

$702

Fine Art Drawings, La fromagère, Gouzy

La fromagère

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

$702

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Elena Paredes

Untitled

Elena Paredes

Fine Art Drawings - 57 x 71.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.4 x 28.1 inch

$1,053

Fine Art Drawings, Lifebuoy Woman, Mino Maccari

Lifebuoy Woman

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 16 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 6.3 x 0 inch

$1,076

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Duván López

Untitled

Duván López

Fine Art Drawings - 85 x 75 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 33.5 x 29.5 x 0 inch

$2,632

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Dr. Love

Woman

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

Fine Art Drawings, Fashion woman, Dr. Love

Fashion woman

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

Fine Art Drawings, Grooving the Bass, Jay Russell

Grooving the Bass

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$2,400

Fine Art Drawings, On the Trumpet, Jay Russell

On the Trumpet

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$2,400

Fine Art Drawings, Sax Man, Jay Russell

Sax Man

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$2,400

Fine Art Drawings, Encre I, Maylis Bourdet

Encre I

Maylis Bourdet

Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 47 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 18.5 x 0.4 inch

$655

Fine Art Drawings, Reciprocity 8, Agathe Wagner

Reciprocity 8

Agathe Wagner

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 13 x 0.4 inch

$585

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Agathe Wagner

Untitled

Agathe Wagner

Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 46 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 18.1 inch

$702

Fine Art Drawings, Eléphant, François Gruson

Eléphant

François Gruson

Fine Art Drawings - 90 x 148 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35.4 x 58.3 x 0 inch

$10,530

Fine Art Drawings, Bison, François Gruson

Bison

François Gruson

Fine Art Drawings - 76 x 136 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.9 x 53.5 x 0.4 inch

$8,190

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 08, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 08

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 28.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

$350

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 10, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 10

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 41.9 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch

$380

Fine Art Drawings, Flo et Helio, Fafi

Flo et Helio

Fafi

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

$1,404

Fine Art Drawings, Masque nocturne, Tarek

Masque nocturne

Tarek

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

$111

Fine Art Drawings, Lune pleine, Elsa Ohana

Lune pleine

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 36 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait de femme, Henri Fehr

Portrait de femme

Henri Fehr

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

$624

Fine Art Drawings, Observation, Eugenia Jaeger

Observation

Eugenia Jaeger

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 59 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 23.2 inch

$819

Fine Art Drawings, Maison 1, Lisbeth Delisle

Maison 1

Lisbeth Delisle

Fine Art Drawings - 65.5 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.8 x 15.7 inch

$2,106

Fine Art Drawings, Lulu, Corné Akkers

Lulu

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 21.1 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,671

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$1,674

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$1,657

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

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

$1,598

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

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

$2,340

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 5.9 inch

$1,755

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 5.9 inch

$1,755

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.7 x 5.9 inch

$1,755

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 17 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 6.7 inch

$2,340

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 8.3 inch

$2,340

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 15.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.7 x 6.1 inch

$2,340

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 15.5 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.3 x 6.1 x 0 inch

$1,170

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 15.5 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.3 x 6.1 x 0 inch

$1,170

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 9.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.5 x 3.7 inch

$1,053

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 9.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.5 x 3.7 inch

$1,053

Fine Art Drawings, Seducing Lady, Luigi Bompard

Seducing Lady

Luigi Bompard

Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$655

Fine Art Drawings, Lady and news, Luigi Bompard

Lady and news

Luigi Bompard

Fine Art Drawings - 25.5 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

$655

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 16, Wang Fei

Untitled 16

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 88 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 34.6 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$11,349

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 15, Wang Fei

Untitled 15

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 88 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 34.6 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$11,349

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 14, Wang Fei

Untitled 14

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 88 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 34.6 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$17,082

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 13, Wang Fei

Untitled 13

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 90 x 70 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$17,082

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 12, Wang Fei

Untitled 12

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 78 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 30.7 x 0.4 inch

$11,349

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 11, Wang Fei

Untitled 11

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 78 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 30.7 x 0.4 inch

$17,082

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 10, Wang Fei

Untitled 10

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 78 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 30.7 x 0.4 inch

$17,082

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 9, Wang Fei

Untitled 9

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 89 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$13,689

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 8, Wang Fei

Untitled 8

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 89 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$13,689

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 7, Wang Fei

Untitled 7

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 89 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$11,349

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 5, Wang Fei

Untitled 5

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 89 x 69 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27.2 x 0.4 inch

$13,689

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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

$1,381 $1,161

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

$1,872 $1,685

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

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

$936

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.