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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, Migrant, Rosemary Achata

Migrant

Rosemary Achata

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

$468

Fine Art Drawings, Paloma, Andy Berrend

Paloma

Andy Berrend

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

$281

Fine Art Drawings, Carcasse # 12, Pascal Marlin

Carcasse # 12

Pascal Marlin

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

$877

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

$866

Fine Art Drawings, Risque 24-03-22, Corné Akkers

Risque 24-03-22

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

$1,622

Fine Art Drawings, Estefania, Xavi Figueras

Estefania

Xavi Figueras

Fine Art Drawings - 66 x 94 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 37 inch

$3,042

Fine Art Drawings, N° 758 Novelette, R. Cavalié

N° 758 Novelette

R. Cavalié

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 35 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

$211

Fine Art Drawings, N° 755 Etude VII, R. Cavalié

N° 755 Etude VII

R. Cavalié

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$269

Fine Art Drawings, N° 757 Ondine., R. Cavalié

N° 757 Ondine.

R. Cavalié

Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

$187

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Maurice Falise

Sans titre

Maurice Falise

Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 15.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.1 x 6.1 x 0 inch

$351

Fine Art Drawings, Carcasse # 6, Pascal Marlin

Carcasse # 6

Pascal Marlin

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

$877

Fine Art Drawings, Figures, Mino Maccari

Figures

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 22 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Le tutu, Valérie Hadida

Le tutu

Valérie Hadida

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 10.6 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Pierre Alechinsky

Sans titre

Pierre Alechinsky

Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 16 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.3 x 6.3 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Jane, Léa Vandeveld

Jane

Léa Vandeveld

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, L'inconnu, Léa Vandeveld

L'inconnu

Léa Vandeveld

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Willi, Léa Vandeveld

Willi

Léa Vandeveld

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Japon, Evelyne Postic

Japon

Evelyne Postic

Fine Art Drawings - 123 x 103 cm Fine Art Drawings - 48.4 x 40.6 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Longing, Luis Alberto Quispe

Longing

Luis Alberto Quispe

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Hom Nguyen

Untitled

Hom Nguyen

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

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Fine Art Drawings, Xaviera, Walter Minus

Xaviera

Walter Minus

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 16 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.1 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, 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, 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, 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, Cage, Eric Demelis

Cage

Eric Demelis

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,223

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 4, Nino Tolomashvili

Untitled 4

Nino Tolomashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$620

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 3, Nino Tolomashvili

Untitled 3

Nino Tolomashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 53 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.9 x 13.8 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 2, Nino Tolomashvili

Untitled 2

Nino Tolomashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$620

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Nino Tolomashvili

Untitled

Nino Tolomashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, The Portrait, Gustavo Boldrini

The Portrait

Gustavo Boldrini

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 34 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.4 x 0 inch

$526

Fine Art Drawings, The Portrait, Francis Duchene

The Portrait

Francis Duchene

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$468

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait (10), Sirio Pellegrini

Portrait (10)

Sirio Pellegrini

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 74 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 29.1 x 0.2 inch

$3,276

Fine Art Drawings, Warm-up, Sirio Pellegrini

Warm-up

Sirio Pellegrini

Fine Art Drawings - 96.5 x 72.5 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 28.5 x 0.2 inch

$4,212

Fine Art Drawings, Pensive Nude, Sirio Pellegrini

Pensive Nude

Sirio Pellegrini

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

$3,042

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Sirio Pellegrini

Portrait

Sirio Pellegrini

Fine Art Drawings - 99 x 75 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch

$3,276

Fine Art Drawings, The General, Mino Maccari

The General

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 32.5 x 42.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.8 x 16.7 x 0.1 inch

$702

Fine Art Drawings, Erotic Scene, Mino Maccari

Erotic Scene

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 10.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.5 x 4.1 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, The Couple, Mino Maccari

The Couple

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, In Good Company, Mino Maccari

In Good Company

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Diablo, Leonardo Aliaga

Diablo

Leonardo Aliaga

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 14.2 inch

$608

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquim Falcó

Untitled

Joaquim Falcó

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

$1,287

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre #1, Zahra Zeinali

Sans titre #1

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,925

Fine Art Drawings, Go Figure, Joe Lasker

Go Figure

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 11 x 2 inch

$1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Ladder III, Joe Lasker

Ladder III

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 29.2 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.511 x 11.5 x 2 inch

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Ladder II, Joe Lasker

Ladder II

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 25.4 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 10 x 2 inch

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Two Girls, Joe Lasker

Two Girls

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 43.2 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 17 x 2 inch

$1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Ladder, Joe Lasker

Ladder

Joe Lasker

Fine Art Drawings - 29.2 x 17.8 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 7 x 2 inch

$1,000

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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

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

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.