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, Sightseeing, Michael Alan

Sightseeing

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0.04 inch

€2,411

Fine Art Drawings, Silence, Evelyne Postic

Silence

Evelyne Postic

Fine Art Drawings - 76 x 57 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.9 x 22.4 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Dusk, Brian Calvin

Dusk

Brian Calvin

Fine Art Drawings - 14.9 x 33.2 x 1.25 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 13.1 x 0.5 inch

€8,810

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Mathilde Anclin

Sans titre

Mathilde Anclin

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 16.5 inch

€720

Fine Art Drawings, Acquaintance, Simon Kozhin

Acquaintance

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings - 23.5 x 19 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.3 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€2,300

Fine Art Drawings, Manalii, Santiago Jr. Ayala

Manalii

Santiago Jr. Ayala

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Juanjo, Santiago Jr. Ayala

Juanjo

Santiago Jr. Ayala

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Gelan, Santiago Jr. Ayala

Gelan

Santiago Jr. Ayala

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Rixe à Lille, Marcoleptique

Rixe à Lille

Marcoleptique

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 35 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 13.8 inch

€550

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 6, Wang Fei

Untitled 6

Wang Fei

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

€9,700

Fine Art Drawings, Tit, Mateo Andrea

Tit

Mateo Andrea

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

€490

Fine Art Drawings, Bailarina, Mateo Andrea

Bailarina

Mateo Andrea

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

€490

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.3 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.3 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 9.4 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.4 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.3 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Holding fast, Marc Bodie

Holding fast

Marc Bodie

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€650

Fine Art Drawings, Where next, Marc Bodie

Where next

Marc Bodie

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€750

Fine Art Drawings, The Red, Tina Loiodice

The Red

Tina Loiodice

Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Red Plume, Joe Lasker

Red Plume

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 17.8 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 7 x 2 inch

€1,808

Fine Art Drawings, Darwin, Christian Frederiksen

Darwin

Christian Frederiksen

Fine Art Drawings - 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Crazy World 22.04, Arthur Hent

Crazy World 22.04

Arthur Hent

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled I, Felix Treadwell

Untitled I

Felix Treadwell

Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 20.32 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.7 x 8 x 0.4 inch

€3,663

Fine Art Drawings, Juliette, Frederic Weisz

Juliette

Frederic Weisz

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€690

Fine Art Drawings, Juliette, Frederic Weisz

Juliette

Frederic Weisz

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€690

Fine Art Drawings, Juliette, Frederic Weisz

Juliette

Frederic Weisz

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 2 inch

€690

Fine Art Drawings, Conflict, Mino Maccari

Conflict

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Strong Woman, Helen Warner

Strong Woman

Helen Warner

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€2,260

Fine Art Drawings, The Gaze, Peter Hofmann

The Gaze

Peter Hofmann

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

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, O.T. 96, Peter Hofmann

O.T. 96

Peter Hofmann

Fine Art Drawings - 72 x 52 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 28.3 x 20.5 x 0 inch

€2,250

Fine Art Drawings, L'attente, Søcø

L'attente

Søcø

Fine Art Drawings - 77 x 58 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30.3 x 22.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Søcø

Portrait

Søcø

Fine Art Drawings - 88 x 68 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Le corbeau et le renard, Zo

Le corbeau et le renard

Zo

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€1,560

Fine Art Drawings, Doux, Yohan Storti

Doux

Yohan Storti

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

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Nurse and patient, Ray Smith

Nurse and patient

Ray Smith

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

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Oswald Aulestia

Untitled

Oswald Aulestia

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

€2,200

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Oswald Aulestia

Untitled

Oswald Aulestia

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 13.4 inch

€2,200

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

€2,200

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Pepe Nebot

Untitled

Pepe Nebot

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

€999

Fine Art Drawings, Embrace, Elizabeth Becker

Embrace

Elizabeth Becker

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 40.6 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 16 inch

€195

Fine Art Drawings, La Libia, Gabriele Galantara

La Libia

Gabriele Galantara

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 9.6 x 0 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Bubble face III, Nef

Bubble face III

Nef

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0 inch

€100

Fine Art Drawings, Samouraille, Bruno Mallart

Samouraille

Bruno Mallart

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 22 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, François Chapuis

Portrait

François Chapuis

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 32.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 12.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,200

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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.