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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, Jeune à la bille, Nef

Jeune à la bille

Nef

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0 inch

€100

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Melchor Zapata

Untitled

Melchor Zapata

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

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Melchor Zapata

Untitled

Melchor Zapata

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

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Melchor Zapata

Untitled

Melchor Zapata

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

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Noble Woman, Erhard Klepper

Noble Woman

Erhard Klepper

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Women, Mino Maccari

Women

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 5 x 12 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 2 x 4.7 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Conflict, Tomo Sakurai

Conflict

Tomo Sakurai

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€4,200

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Leo Guida

Portrait

Leo Guida

Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€460

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Oswald Aulestia

Untitled

Oswald Aulestia

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 32.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 12.8 inch

€888

Fine Art Drawings, Soliude, Roberto Cuccaro

Soliude

Roberto Cuccaro

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 36.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 14.4 x 0 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Hero, Yohan Storti

Hero

Yohan Storti

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Chronos, Silvia Cuello

Chronos

Silvia Cuello

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 27.6 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Untitled

Ernest Salvadó

Fine Art Drawings - 82 x 54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 32.3 x 21.3 inch

€444

Fine Art Drawings, Insolente foret, Elsa Ohana

Insolente foret

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 80.5 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Stanislav Bojankov

Portrait

Stanislav Bojankov

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€80

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Stanislav Bojankov

Portrait

Stanislav Bojankov

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€70

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages I, Arancha Tejedor

Personnages I

Arancha Tejedor

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Ray Charles, Noël Granger

Ray Charles

Noël Granger

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

€100

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 1, André Ferrand

Portrait 1

André Ferrand

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

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages VI, Arancha Tejedor

Personnages VI

Arancha Tejedor

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, André Ferrand

Portrait 2

André Ferrand

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

€390

Fine Art Drawings, De dos, Elsa Ohana

De dos

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Croisées, Elsa Ohana

Croisées

Elsa Ohana

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 31.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 12.4 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, World in Pink, Tina Loiodice

World in Pink

Tina Loiodice

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Miss Flower, Tina Loiodice

Miss Flower

Tina Loiodice

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Miss, Tina Loiodice

Miss

Tina Loiodice

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Hot Dog, Tina Loiodice

Hot Dog

Tina Loiodice

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Green Eyes, Tina Loiodice

Green Eyes

Tina Loiodice

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 4, André Ferrand

Portrait 4

André Ferrand

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

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 3, André Ferrand

Portrait 3

André Ferrand

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

€390

Fine Art Drawings, The ball, Silvia Cuello

The ball

Silvia Cuello

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

€280

Fine Art Drawings, Yoko Ono, Edvarda Braanaas

Yoko Ono

Edvarda Braanaas

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.2 inch

€3,800

Fine Art Drawings, Quelle, Nina Lanner

Quelle

Nina Lanner

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

€795

Fine Art Drawings, Chemin, Sounya Whang

Chemin

Sounya Whang

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 19.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.7 x 0 inch

€100

Fine Art Drawings, Le penseur, Erdna André

Le penseur

Erdna André

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Frère et sœur, Sounya Whang

Frère et sœur

Sounya Whang

Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.7 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Chemin, Sounya Whang

Chemin

Sounya Whang

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 19.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.7 x 0 inch

€100

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Sculpture, König, Nando Kallweit

König

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture - 26 x 7 x 4 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 2.8 x 1.6 inch

€709

Fine Art Drawings, Sun Day, tizlu

Sun Day

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,180 €944

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

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

€800

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

€8,000

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.