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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, Conspiration, Zahra Zeinali

Conspiration

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

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

$439

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

$1,156

Fine Art Drawings, Reverie, Silvia Cuello

Reverie

Silvia Cuello

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 12.2 inch

$324

Fine Art Drawings, Serenity, Frederico Dos Ramos

Serenity

Frederico Dos Ramos

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 42 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

$3,121 $2,809

Fine Art Drawings, Intribe, Ofobuike Okudoh

Intribe

Ofobuike Okudoh

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

$6,357

Fine Art Drawings, Ballerina, Isabelle Hirtzig

Ballerina

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$110

Fine Art Drawings, Energy, Kamsar Ohanyan

Energy

Kamsar Ohanyan

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

$370

Fine Art Drawings, Anuti-1, Atom Hovhanesyan

Anuti-1

Atom Hovhanesyan

Fine Art Drawings - 55.9 x 46.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 18.4 x 0 inch

$70,000

Fine Art Drawings, Isabelle, Bences

Isabelle

Bences

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$231

Fine Art Drawings, Levels, Johnathan Ball

Levels

Johnathan Ball

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

$2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Summer Time, Giusy Lauriola

Summer Time

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.8 x 0 inch

$220

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Giusy Lauriola

Woman

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 14.8 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$220

Fine Art Drawings, Noi, Giusy Lauriola

Noi

Giusy Lauriola

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 14.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.8 inch

$220

Fine Art Drawings, Chaman, Hélène Lagnieu

Chaman

Hélène Lagnieu

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$520

Fine Art Drawings, Séraphin, Dominique Pourchet

Séraphin

Dominique Pourchet

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

$225

Fine Art Drawings, Selfie, Isabelle Hirtzig

Selfie

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$156

Fine Art Drawings, Lee Miller, Damien Berrard

Lee Miller

Damien Berrard

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

$139

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Elena Paredes

Untitled

Elena Paredes

Fine Art Drawings - 63 x 47.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.8 x 18.7 x 0.4 inch

$2,081

Fine Art Drawings, No way out, Marie Boralevi

No way out

Marie Boralevi

Fine Art Drawings - 120 x 80 cm Fine Art Drawings - 47.2 x 31.5 inch

Sold

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

$185

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 8, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 8

Davide Cicolani

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

$1,271

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 6, Davide Cicolani

Portrait 6

Davide Cicolani

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

$1,271

Fine Art Drawings, Stop, Shota Imerlishvili

Stop

Shota Imerlishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 86 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33.9 x 0 inch

$8,091

Fine Art Drawings, Le Grenier, Michaël Brack

Le Grenier

Michaël Brack

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

$555

Fine Art Drawings, Le Crâne, Michaël Brack

Le Crâne

Michaël Brack

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

$555

Fine Art Drawings, Good Bye, Isabelle Hirtzig

Good Bye

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$110

Fine Art Drawings, Love, Isabelle Hirtzig

Love

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$173

Fine Art Drawings, Rehearsal, Isabelle Hirtzig

Rehearsal

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$98

Fine Art Drawings, Esclave, Herve Malcom Thomas

Esclave

Herve Malcom Thomas

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

$208

Fine Art Drawings, Tête, Herve Malcom Thomas

Tête

Herve Malcom Thomas

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

$208

Fine Art Drawings, Black Pins, Lantomo

Black Pins

Lantomo

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

$4,462

Fine Art Drawings, Louis XVI, LN Le Pape

Louis XVI

LN Le Pape

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$185

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

$116

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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

$1,618

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

Painting, Orlando, Galya Popova

Orlando

Galya Popova

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,774

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.