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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, Flash, Lantomo

Flash

Lantomo

Fine Art Drawings - 73 x 54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 28.7 x 21.3 inch

$3,814

Fine Art Drawings, Bastet, Corné Akkers

Bastet

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 21.1 x 28.2 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.1 x 0.1 inch

$1,598

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 2, Wang Fei

Untitled 2

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 235 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 92.5 x 0.4 inch

$39,300

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre #2, Zahra Zeinali

Sans titre #2

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Dessin, Philippe Hiquily

Dessin

Philippe Hiquily

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 55 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 21.7 x 1.2 inch

$13,870

Fine Art Drawings, A(A-Un), Tomo Sakurai

A(A-Un)

Tomo Sakurai

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

$694

Fine Art Drawings, Queen J, Alexandre Granger

Queen J

Alexandre Granger

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

$2,196

Fine Art Drawings, Solitaire, Roberto Cuccaro

Solitaire

Roberto Cuccaro

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 inch

$751

Fine Art Drawings, Madone, Evelyne Postic

Madone

Evelyne Postic

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

$694

Fine Art Drawings, N444, Maria Vanishvili

N444

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 86 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33.9 x 0.1 inch

$578

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Pierre Segoh

Sans titre

Pierre Segoh

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

$925

Fine Art Drawings, Back to Amy, Monika Nowak

Back to Amy

Monika Nowak

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$6,473

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

$9,500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Lia Kaufman

Untitled

Lia Kaufman

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 51 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 20.1 inch

$770

Fine Art Drawings, Girls, Erhard Klepper

Girls

Erhard Klepper

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

$809

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Melchor Zapata

Untitled

Melchor Zapata

Fine Art Drawings - 55 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.7 x 29.9 inch

$2,081

Fine Art Drawings, Hats-Stah, Alberto Sordi

Hats-Stah

Alberto Sordi

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15 x 0 inch

$740

Fine Art Drawings, Figure of Man, Marcel Vertès

Figure of Man

Marcel Vertès

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 8.7 x 0 inch

$624

Fine Art Drawings, Diva, Jay Russell

Diva

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$2,400

Fine Art Drawings, Trois Grâces, Jules Pascin

Trois Grâces

Jules Pascin

Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 16.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 6.5 x 0.4 inch

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Fafinette et Hmilo, Fafi

Fafinette et Hmilo

Fafi

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

$1,387

Fine Art Drawings, Cosmos, Elsa Ohana

Cosmos

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$636

Fine Art Drawings, Portait 8, Prochore Tchuidjang

Portait 8

Prochore Tchuidjang

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

$925

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, François Chapuis

Portrait

François Chapuis

Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 35 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

$670

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joaquín Xaudaró

Untitled

Joaquín Xaudaró

Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 9.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.5 x 3.7 inch

$1,040

Fine Art Drawings, AWD XL Black, Ashley Wood

AWD XL Black

Ashley Wood

Fine Art Drawings - 42.5 x 30.5 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.7 x 12 x 0.8 inch

$2,081

Fine Art Drawings, Medusa 2, Lucio Forte

Medusa 2

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 17 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch

$139

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Reyner

Untitled

Reyner

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

$809

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Marcel Chirnoaga

Sans-titre

Marcel Chirnoaga

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 24.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 9.6 inch

$867

Fine Art Drawings, Madame, Léa Vandeveld

Madame

Léa Vandeveld

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

$838

Fine Art Drawings, Family 2, Ivan Afronskiy

Family 2

Ivan Afronskiy

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 11 x 0.4 inch

$1,491

Fine Art Drawings, Frédérica, Luigi Corbellini

Frédérica

Luigi Corbellini

Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$986

Fine Art Drawings, 9 mois, Jean-Louis Toutain

9 mois

Jean-Louis Toutain

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$1,965

Fine Art Drawings, Jungle, Anne-Laure Maison

Jungle

Anne-Laure Maison

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 20 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 7.9 inch

$578

Fine Art Drawings, Amy Winehouse, Stikki Peaches

Amy Winehouse

Stikki Peaches

Fine Art Drawings - 135 x 95 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 53.1 x 37.4 x 0 inch

$5,548

Fine Art Drawings, Edith, Gaelle Beyaert

Edith

Gaelle Beyaert

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$647

Fine Art Drawings, Cheers, K Oldal

Cheers

K Oldal

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 51 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

$636

Fine Art Drawings, They watch, Edward Zelinsky

They watch

Edward Zelinsky

Fine Art Drawings - 55.9 x 76.2 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 30 x 0.2 inch

$550

Fine Art Drawings, The last call, Karim Benchebra

The last call

Karim Benchebra

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

$1,965

Fine Art Drawings, Amazone, André Ferrand

Amazone

André Ferrand

Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 51 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 20.1 x 0.4 inch

$798

Fine Art Drawings, Monarch, Rilda Paco

Monarch

Rilda Paco

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

$786

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ossip Zadkine

Untitled

Ossip Zadkine

Fine Art Drawings - 62 x 45 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.4 x 17.7 x 0 inch

$13,870

Fine Art Drawings, Asfixia, Vermibus

Asfixia

Vermibus

Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 28 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.2 inch

$1,040

Fine Art Drawings, 02-Untitled, Aditi Lago

02-Untitled

Aditi Lago

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 39.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 15.6 x 0 inch

$1,387

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, Christophe Hohler

Portrait 2

Christophe Hohler

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch

$2,312

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Samaneh Atef

Sans titre

Samaneh Atef

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

$2,196

Fine Art Drawings, Tinku 1, Leonardo Aliaga

Tinku 1

Leonardo Aliaga

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

$601

Fine Art Drawings, Germana, Samoré

Germana

Samoré

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

$636

Fine Art Drawings, Face II, Olivier Furter

Face II

Olivier Furter

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$1,503

Fine Art Drawings, Sisters, Sayeed Momoh

Sisters

Sayeed Momoh

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 91.4 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 36 x 1 inch

$2,250

Fine Art Drawings, Quiet Time, Damilola Ilori

Quiet Time

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9 x 1 inch

$1,050

Fine Art Drawings, Lorelei, Santiago Jr. Ayala

Lorelei

Santiago Jr. Ayala

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 14.6 inch

$694

Fine Art Drawings, Collegiate, Tina Loiodice

Collegiate

Tina Loiodice

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

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Simon Goldberg

Woman

Simon Goldberg

Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.7 x 5.9 x 0 inch

$347

Fine Art Drawings, Me, Léa Dedieu

Me

Léa Dedieu

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$220

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled II, Felix Treadwell

Untitled II

Felix Treadwell

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

$3,950

Fine Art Drawings, Composition, Sandro Chia

Composition

Sandro Chia

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

$11,559

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Simón Vázquez

Untitled

Simón Vázquez

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$982

Fine Art Drawings, Mikato, Nino Devdariani

Mikato

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 43 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 16.9 x 0 inch

$2,312

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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

$1,480

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

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.