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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, 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

CHF 1,562

Fine Art Drawings, Regard à droite, Jéko

Regard à droite

Jéko

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,172

Fine Art Drawings, Sies Marjan, Manuel Santelices

Sies Marjan

Manuel Santelices

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

CHF 704

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 202, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 202

Tarek Butayhi

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

CHF 704

Fine Art Drawings, Bigbang, Mateo Andrea

Bigbang

Mateo Andrea

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

CHF 635

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 09, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 09

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 54.9 x 34.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.6 x 13.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 598

Fine Art Drawings, Duo, Valérie Hadida

Duo

Valérie Hadida

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

CHF 1,270

Fine Art Drawings, Star Study, Patsy McArthur

Star Study

Patsy McArthur

Fine Art Drawings - 66 x 55 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 21.7 inch

CHF 1,172

Fine Art Drawings, Wagner, Ernest Pignon-Ernest

Wagner

Ernest Pignon-Ernest

Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 15.7 inch

CHF 17,578

Fine Art Drawings, Sole, Kane Mclay

Sole

Kane Mclay

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 576

Fine Art Drawings, La veuve, Damien Berrard

La veuve

Damien Berrard

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

CHF 1,270

Fine Art Drawings, Tanger, Eduardo Arroyo

Tanger

Eduardo Arroyo

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 72.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 28.5 inch

CHF 11,719

Fine Art Drawings, 01 janv. 88, Bernard Noël

01 janv. 88

Bernard Noël

Fine Art Drawings - 59 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.2 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Lovegun, Dani André Skogfelt

Lovegun

Dani André Skogfelt

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 59 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 23.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,660

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité III (2), Dasz Panda

Divinité III (2)

Dasz Panda

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, Søcø

Portrait 2

Søcø

Fine Art Drawings - 102 x 66 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 40.2 x 26 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,148

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (44), Mansour El Habre

Untitled (44)

Mansour El Habre

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

CHF 1,672

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Menachem Gueffen

Sans titre

Menachem Gueffen

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11 x 0.4 inch

CHF 566

Fine Art Drawings, Récompensé, Henrik Jacob

Récompensé

Henrik Jacob

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

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Alexandre Taillandier

Untitled

Alexandre Taillandier

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

CHF 674

Fine Art Drawings, Ecoute II, Bze Bzeland

Ecoute II

Bze Bzeland

Fine Art Drawings - 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

CHF 195

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Duván López

Untitled

Duván López

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

CHF 586

Fine Art Drawings, Cascade, Allen Jones

Cascade

Allen Jones

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 11 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 4.3 inch

CHF 7,324

Fine Art Drawings, Stanza metafisica, Dr. Love

Stanza metafisica

Dr. Love

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 27 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 88

Fine Art Drawings, El baile, Gabriel Rigo

El baile

Gabriel Rigo

Fine Art Drawings - 51 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.1 x 14.6 x 0 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Carlos Mendez

Untitled

Carlos Mendez

Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 45 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 17.7 x 0 inch

CHF 542

Fine Art Drawings, Toi et Moi, Lali Kakubava

Toi et Moi

Lali Kakubava

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

CHF 488

Fine Art Drawings, Mucha, Ramon Maiden

Mucha

Ramon Maiden

Fine Art Drawings - 43.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.1 x 11 inch

CHF 732

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Charles Guerin

Woman

Charles Guerin

Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.1 x 8.7 x 0 inch

CHF 771

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

CHF 488

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Adam Nidzgorski

Sans titre

Adam Nidzgorski

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 635

Fine Art Drawings, Costume, Eugene Berman

Costume

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.5 x 4.6 x 0 inch

CHF 586

Fine Art Drawings, Léviathan, Catherine Clare

Léviathan

Catherine Clare

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 586

Fine Art Drawings, Autoportrait, Frederic Weisz

Autoportrait

Frederic Weisz

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Henriette, Raoul Dufy

Henriette

Raoul Dufy

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 46 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 18.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,465

Fine Art Drawings, Women, Guelfo Bianchini

Women

Guelfo Bianchini

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 36 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Zoro, Christian Zeimert

Zoro

Christian Zeimert

Fine Art Drawings - 77 x 57 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30.3 x 22.4 x 0.2 inch

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, La Fumeuse de St Jacques, Zafi

La Fumeuse de St Jacques

Zafi

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,562

Fine Art Drawings, Pucci Pants, Mel Ramos

Pucci Pants

Mel Ramos

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 19 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 7.5 inch

CHF 3,960

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait de dame, Albert Chavaz

Portrait de dame

Albert Chavaz

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 17 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 700

Fine Art Drawings, The Mac Chicken, Zo

The Mac Chicken

Zo

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

CHF 571

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Untitled

Ernest Salvadó

Fine Art Drawings - 90 x 55 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35.4 x 21.7 inch

CHF 542

Fine Art Drawings, Two Figures, Henri Epstein

Two Figures

Henri Epstein

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

CHF 488

Fine Art Drawings, Big Horns, Gouzy

Big Horns

Gouzy

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

CHF 537

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages, Serge Pahnke

Personnages

Serge Pahnke

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 39.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 15.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 700

Fine Art Drawings, Les oreilles, AE2

Les oreilles

AE2

Fine Art Drawings - 120 x 150 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.6 inch

CHF 762

Fine Art Drawings, Couple, René Gruau

Couple

René Gruau

Fine Art Drawings - 54 x 44 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.3 x 17.3 inch

CHF 1,367

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Repères, Hom Nguyen

Sans Repères

Hom Nguyen

Fine Art Drawings - 150 x 150 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

CHF 25,781

Fine Art Drawings, Encre II, Maylis Bourdet

Encre II

Maylis Bourdet

Fine Art Drawings - 59 x 44 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 547

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Jean Cocteau

Portrait

Jean Cocteau

Fine Art Drawings - 26.67 x 19.43 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.5 x 7.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 6,836

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Leo Guida

Woman

Leo Guida

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

CHF 566

Fine Art Drawings, Franco, Samuel Franceschi

Franco

Samuel Franceschi

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 20 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 7.9 inch

CHF 518

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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

CHF 1,250

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

CHF 1,562

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

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

CHF 781

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

CHF 7,812

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.