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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, Dark Poet, Michel Flamme

Dark Poet

Michel Flamme

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 27.6 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sous l'océan, Studio Abawé

Sous l'océan

Studio Abawé

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Peur, Michaël Brack

Peur

Michaël Brack

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, J'aime danser, Moustache Bleue

J'aime danser

Moustache Bleue

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

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Fine Art Drawings, #hands10, Nello Petrucci

#hands10

Nello Petrucci

Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 25 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Jazz man II, Noël Granger

Jazz man II

Noël Granger

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Jazz man, Noël Granger

Jazz man

Noël Granger

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Mea Culpa, Alexandre Granger

Mea Culpa

Alexandre Granger

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Graziella, Walter Minus

Graziella

Walter Minus

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 17 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Autoportrait 6, Sounya Whang

Autoportrait 6

Sounya Whang

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 12.2 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Mara

Sans titre

Mara

Fine Art Drawings - 58 x 77.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.8 x 30.5 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, My Fair Lady, Michael Alan

My Fair Lady

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.04 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Athanase, Dominique Pourchet

Athanase

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Clown, Alfred Defossez

Clown

Alfred Defossez

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 8.9 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Musicien, Sounya Whang

Musicien

Sounya Whang

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 9.4 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Alexandre Moulis

Sans titre

Alexandre Moulis

Fine Art Drawings - 16 x 10 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.3 x 3.9 x 0.4 inch

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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

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Fine Art Drawings, Dangerous, Marie Boralevi

Dangerous

Marie Boralevi

Fine Art Drawings - 140 x 100 cm Fine Art Drawings - 55.1 x 39.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Women, Eugene Berman

Women

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings - 18.3 x 12.3 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.2 x 4.8 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Masked Head, Eugene Berman

Masked Head

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, La Mer 27, Richard Pommier

La Mer 27

Richard Pommier

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Complicité, Moustache Bleue

Complicité

Moustache Bleue

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 28.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Liberté, Moustache Bleue

Liberté

Moustache Bleue

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 28.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Double Neck, Jason Newsted

Double Neck

Jason Newsted

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 55.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 22 x 2 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, The big sleep, Miquel Wert

The big sleep

Miquel Wert

Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 14 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.5 x 5.5 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, True Love, Karine Secret

True Love

Karine Secret

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 17.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 6.9 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Ton Roi, Dominique Pourchet

Ton Roi

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Colette Deblé

Sans-titre

Colette Deblé

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 22 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 8.7 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Abysses, Laurence Bonnet

Abysses

Laurence Bonnet

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Ancêtre, Richard Laillier

Ancêtre

Richard Laillier

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Yurei, Richard Laillier

Yurei

Richard Laillier

Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 10 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.5 x 3.9 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Suaire, Richard Laillier

Suaire

Richard Laillier

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 14 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Miss, Dominique Pourchet

Miss

Dominique Pourchet

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Bunkt_

Untitled

Bunkt_

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Tadeusz Kantor

Sans titre

Tadeusz Kantor

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Rio-Jim, Maurice Van Moppes

Rio-Jim

Maurice Van Moppes

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 7.9 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Man Reading, Louis Touchagues

Man Reading

Louis Touchagues

Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 14.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.6 x 5.8 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Seated Girl, Suzie Bernardeau

Seated Girl

Suzie Bernardeau

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.6 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Seated Man, Suzie Bernardeau

Seated Man

Suzie Bernardeau

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Seriously, Bunkt_

Seriously

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 17.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 7 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, YO! Queen Elizabeth., JP Malot

YO! Queen Elizabeth.

JP Malot

Fine Art Drawings - 8.5 x 16.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 3.3 x 6.5 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Bunkt_

Untitled

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, untitled, Bunkt_

untitled

Bunkt_

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Bunkt_

Untitled

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 27.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Bunkt_

Untitled

Bunkt_

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Bread, Rosemary Achata

Bread

Rosemary Achata

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Lust, Rilda Paco

Lust

Rilda Paco

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Durchbruch, Nina Lanner

Durchbruch

Nina Lanner

Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 28 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11 x 0.1 inch

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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

$1,849

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

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

$925

Painting, Orlando, Galya Popova

Orlando

Galya Popova

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,774

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.