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.
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
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 780
Jeanne Daour
Fine Art Drawings - 14.7 x 21 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch
CHF 487
Jean-Baptiste Dumont
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
CHF 146
Albert Fernand-Renault
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 16.5 x 0 inch
CHF 487
Nino Cordio
Fine Art Drawings - 44.5 x 31 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.5 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch
CHF 536
Serge Fontinsky
Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 23.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 9.3 x 0.1 inch
CHF 565
Jean Louis Plumet
Fine Art Drawings - 29.2 x 20 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch
CHF 536
Alain Patrick Korenberg
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
CHF 1,462
Nathalie Gobin
Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 46 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 18.1 x 0.2 inch
CHF 634
Zakhar Shevchuk
Fine Art Drawings - 78 x 58 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30.7 x 22.8 x 0 inch
CHF 1,170
Léopold Survage
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 10.2 x 0 inch
CHF 1,170
Julieta Intergalactica
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.8 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.1 inch
CHF 234
Arancha Tejedor
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
CHF 117
Philippe Hiquily
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 55 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 21.7 x 1.2 inch
CHF 11,699
Jean Robert (Ipoustéguy)
Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 49 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 19.3 x 0.2 inch
CHF 536
Stikki Peaches
Fine Art Drawings - 135 x 95 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 53.1 x 37.4 x 0 inch
CHF 4,680 CHF 3,978
Federica Frati
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch
CHF 487
Sarah Wiame-Peclard
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
CHF 1,901
Gabriela Noelle
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
CHF 643
Maria Vanishvili
Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 86 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33.9 x 0.1 inch
CHF 487
Mathilde André
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
CHF 292 CHF 263
James Bonachea
Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 19 x 0.1 inch
CHF 2,496
Alberto Manetti
Fine Art Drawings - 30.7 x 22 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.1 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch
CHF 585
Michel Houssin
Fine Art Drawings - 38.5 x 31.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.2 x 12.4 x 0.1 inch
CHF 536
Eric Demelis
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
CHF 1,852
Corné Akkers
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
CHF 1,329
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
François Chapuis
Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 35 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
CHF 565
Jules Pascin
Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 16.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 6.5 x 0.4 inch
CHF 2,437
Erhard Klepper
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch
CHF 682
Luigi Corbellini
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch
CHF 800
Alexandre Monteiro (Hopare)
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 13 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 5.1 inch
CHF 2,925
Paloma Castello
Fine Art Drawings - 41.9 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch
CHF 416
Mariette Lydis
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 24.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9.7 x 0 inch
CHF 585
Karim Benchebra
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
CHF 1,657
Sandra Vásquez de la Horra
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch
CHF 5,655
Kevin-Ademola Sangosanya
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 80 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 31.5 inch
CHF 780
Emile-François Chambon
Fine Art Drawings - 34.5 x 24.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.6 x 9.6 x 0.1 inch
CHF 630
Prochore Tchuidjang
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
CHF 780
Gaelle Beyaert
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
CHF 546
Miguel Angel Lozano Bonora
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
CHF 673
Nikolai Angelov-Gary
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
CHF 1,706
Ashley Wood
Fine Art Drawings - 42.5 x 30.5 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.7 x 12 x 0.8 inch
CHF 1,755
Ray Richardson
Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 120 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
CHF 4,387
Maurice Barraud
Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 18.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.1 x 7.3 x 0.1 inch
CHF 700
Aline Kominsky-Crumb
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 20.3 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8 x 0.1 inch
CHF 2,465
Ossip Zadkine
Fine Art Drawings - 62 x 45 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.4 x 17.7 x 0 inch
CHF 11,699
Felix Treadwell
Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 20.32 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.7 x 8 x 0.4 inch
CHF 3,286
Pierre Molinier
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.7 x 0 inch
CHF 5,850
Konstantinos Papaioannou
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
CHF 1,267
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
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.