Artworks

All artworks

Artists

All artists

Galeries

All galleries

Categories

Subcategories

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.

Read more

Save your search and find it in your favorites

Saved search

Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches

Unsaved search

A problem occurred

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled

Tarek Butayhi

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

€649

Fine Art Drawings, Guardian, Kane Mclay

Guardian

Kane Mclay

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch

€590

Fine Art Drawings, Tether, Kane Mclay

Tether

Kane Mclay

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€590

Fine Art Drawings, Flux and Flora, Kane Mclay

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

€590

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité 7, Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité III (7), Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité 9, Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité 11, Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité 12, Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité 19, Dasz Panda

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Fight, Mino Maccari

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Figures, Mino Maccari

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

€520

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Francesc Genovés

Untitled

Francesc Genovés

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

€555

Fine Art Drawings, Femme assise, Zafi

Femme assise

Zafi

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

€1,600

Fine Art Drawings, Etude, Franciszek Starowieyski

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, The Couple, Mino Maccari

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

€740

Fine Art Drawings, Lovers, Federica Frati

Lovers

Federica Frati

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Pupille, Rossella Mercedes

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€835

Fine Art Drawings, Forma ideal, Teo Franco

Forma ideal

Teo Franco

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

€550

Fine Art Drawings, La felina, Teo Franco

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

€550

Fine Art Drawings, Camuflaje, Teo Franco

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

€550

Fine Art Drawings, Spicy, Teo Franco

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

€550

Fine Art Drawings, La pescadora, Teo Franco

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

€550

Fine Art Drawings, Amour androgyne, Anthea Missy

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Neo Deco 08-09-24, Corné Akkers

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

€1,536

Fine Art Drawings, Femme et son ombre, Zafi

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

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Sleeping Girl, Mino Maccari

Sleeping Girl

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 13 x 0 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

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

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

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

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, La Femme Brune, Sophie Duplain

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Gina, Lorette Le Brestec

Gina

Lorette Le Brestec

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Francesc Genovés

Untitled

Francesc Genovés

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

€555

Fine Art Drawings, Femme au visage vert, Zafi

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

€1,600

Fine Art Drawings, Dénudée (Unclad), Sayeed Momoh

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

€2,087

Fine Art Drawings, Caphi, Philippe Pasqua

Caphi

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 230 x 150 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 90.6 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch

€40,000

Fine Art Drawings, Ironic, James Shipton

Ironic

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Drift Away, James Shipton

Drift Away

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Six cylinder, Gouzy

Six cylinder

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Self obsessed, Gouzy

Self obsessed

Gouzy

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Serge Plagnol

Sans titre

Serge Plagnol

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Neo Deco, Corné Akkers

Neo Deco

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

€1,527

Fine Art Drawings, Neo Deco, Corné Akkers

Neo Deco

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

€1,482

Fine Art Drawings, Reach Out, James Shipton

Reach Out

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Heat, James Shipton

Heat

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Shadows, James Shipton

Shadows

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Touch, James Shipton

Touch

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Purpose, James Shipton

Purpose

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Nonsense, James Shipton

Nonsense

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Lonely Days, James Shipton

Lonely Days

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Ask, James Shipton

Ask

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, D.A.R.E Study, James Shipton

D.A.R.E Study

James Shipton

Fine Art Drawings - 59.4 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€216

Fine Art Drawings, Volti, Saverio Filioli Uranio

Volti

Saverio Filioli Uranio

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€79

23/33

Discover the styles & movements

more inspiration

Discover the selection of our experts

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 €992

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 €1,440

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

Painting, Balloon girl, Mr Brainwash

Balloon girl

Mr Brainwash

Painting - 76 x 56 x 1 cm Painting - 29.9 x 22 x 0.4 inch

€8,000

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.