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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, Lianes 11, Mathilde Neri

Lianes 11

Mathilde Neri

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

$936

Fine Art Drawings, Red Ballerina, Lali Kakubava

Red Ballerina

Lali Kakubava

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

$585

Fine Art Drawings, Face de tarte, Henrik Jacob

Face de tarte

Henrik Jacob

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 inch

$936

Fine Art Drawings, Tête rose, Valérie Hadida

Tête rose

Valérie Hadida

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 36 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

$1,872

Fine Art Drawings, Rêves, Valérie Hadida

Rêves

Valérie Hadida

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

$1,521

Fine Art Drawings, Le tutu, Valérie Hadida

Le tutu

Valérie Hadida

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.5 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0.2 inch

$1,521

Fine Art Drawings, Dos de femme, Valérie Hadida

Dos de femme

Valérie Hadida

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

$1,521

Fine Art Drawings, Marie, Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Marie

Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$784

Fine Art Drawings, Barbara, Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Barbara

Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$784

Fine Art Drawings, Al, Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Al

Béa Bealaff-Girotto

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$784

Fine Art Drawings, CSTDF, Stefano Mazzolini

CSTDF

Stefano Mazzolini

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

$585

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

$468

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

$468

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

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled

Tarek Butayhi

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

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled

Tarek Butayhi

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

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 213, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 213

Tarek Butayhi

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

$950

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 277, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 277

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 55 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 21.7 inch

$950

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 270, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 270

Tarek Butayhi

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

$950

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 269, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 269

Tarek Butayhi

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

$950

Fine Art Drawings, Ensoñaciones, Teo Franco

Ensoñaciones

Teo Franco

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Geisha VI, Teo Franco

Geisha VI

Teo Franco

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Geisha lll, Teo Franco

Geisha lll

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Yelmo, Teo Franco

Yelmo

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Híbridos, Teo Franco

Híbridos

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, El protector, Teo Franco

El protector

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, María, Teo Franco

María

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Payaso, Teo Franco

Payaso

Teo Franco

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

$643

Fine Art Drawings, Tótem, Teo Franco

Tótem

Teo Franco

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

$643

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

$649

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

$649

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 03, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 03

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

$310

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 04, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 04

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 24.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.1 inch

$310

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 06, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 06

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 29.2 x 38.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 15 x 0.1 inch

$350

Fine Art Drawings, Monna Lisa, Mino Maccari

Monna Lisa

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$819

Fine Art Drawings, Time Toys, You Wu

Time Toys

You Wu

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 13 x 0 inch

$936

Fine Art Drawings, El Presidente, Michael Grine

El Presidente

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 18 x 0.1 inch

$500

Fine Art Drawings, Mask, Tarek

Mask

Tarek

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

$222

Fine Art Drawings, Happy, Juliane Hundertmark

Happy

Juliane Hundertmark

Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 57 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 22.4 x 0 inch

$2,691

Fine Art Drawings, Monument, Mino Maccari

Monument

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$292

Fine Art Drawings, Figures, Mino Maccari

Figures

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 34 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 13.4 x 0 inch

$1,158

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$5,850

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

$3,510

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$5,850

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$5,850

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bernard Noël

Sans titre

Bernard Noël

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$936

8/33

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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

$1,381 $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.