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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, Female Portrait, Leo Guida

Female Portrait

Leo Guida

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 13 x 0 inch

$555

Fine Art Drawings, Immerse with Lotus, Becky Lam

Immerse with Lotus

Becky Lam

Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$3,988

Fine Art Drawings, Adaptation #6, Zahra Zeinali

Adaptation #6

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre #6, Zahra Zeinali

Sans titre #6

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre #5, Zahra Zeinali

Sans titre #5

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre #4, Zahra Zeinali

Sans titre #4

Zahra Zeinali

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

$2,890

Fine Art Drawings, Nurse and dog, Ray Smith

Nurse and dog

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

$1,271

Fine Art Drawings, Medicine lesson, Ray Smith

Medicine lesson

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

$1,271

Fine Art Drawings, Graphite 1, André Ferrand

Graphite 1

André Ferrand

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

$1,040

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

$1,026

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

$451

Fine Art Drawings, La Plage, Isabelle Floch

La Plage

Isabelle Floch

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$3,236

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Fritz Zolnhofer

Untitled

Fritz Zolnhofer

Fine Art Drawings - 52 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 14.6 x 0 inch

$4,161

Fine Art Drawings, Sleeping, Anthony Roaland

Sleeping

Anthony Roaland

Fine Art Drawings - 46 x 64 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.1 x 25.2 x 0 inch

$393 $295

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Untitled

Ernest Salvadó

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

$513

Fine Art Drawings, N333, Maria Vanishvili

N333

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 43 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 16.9 x 0.1 inch

$416

Fine Art Drawings, N555, Maria Vanishvili

N555

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 29.9 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$416

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Gerard Sala

Untitled

Gerard Sala

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 32.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 12.8 inch

$1,503

Fine Art Drawings, Croquis, Alfred Defossez

Croquis

Alfred Defossez

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 10.2 x 0 inch

$289

Fine Art Drawings, Croquis, Alfred Defossez

Croquis

Alfred Defossez

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 10.2 x 0 inch

$289

Fine Art Drawings, Jolie fille, Isabelle Hirtzig

Jolie fille

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

$214

Fine Art Drawings, PercéPolice, Marcoleptique

PercéPolice

Marcoleptique

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 17 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 6.7 x 0 inch

$347

Fine Art Drawings, Santo Rocco 2, Federica Frati

Santo Rocco 2

Federica Frati

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Gandalf, Vincent Pompetti

Gandalf

Vincent Pompetti

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

$1,098

Fine Art Drawings, Yoda, Vincent Pompetti

Yoda

Vincent Pompetti

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

$1,098

Fine Art Drawings, Madonna, Atom Hovhanesyan

Madonna

Atom Hovhanesyan

Fine Art Drawings - 76.2 x 55.9 x 0.03 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 0 inch

$100,000

Fine Art Drawings, She Unknown, Nino Eliashvili

She Unknown

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 11.6 x 0 inch

$462

Fine Art Drawings, L’Art du Bonheur, Blu_451

L’Art du Bonheur

Blu_451

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$405

Fine Art Drawings, La lionne !, Noël Granger

La lionne !

Noël Granger

Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 9.8 inch

$110

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Menachem Gueffen

Sans titre

Menachem Gueffen

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,734

Fine Art Drawings, Rhein fire, Daniel Authouart

Rhein fire

Daniel Authouart

Fine Art Drawings - 63.5 x 49 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

$4,623

Fine Art Drawings, Gainsbourg, Alain Robet

Gainsbourg

Alain Robet

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$254

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

$982

Fine Art Drawings, Woman Red Profile, Leo Guida

Woman Red Profile

Leo Guida

Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 12.6 x 0 inch

$439

Fine Art Drawings, Arrière-plan, Zahra Zeinali

Arrière-plan

Zahra Zeinali

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$2,196

Fine Art Drawings, Jeune femme, Henri Fehr

Jeune femme

Henri Fehr

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 22 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

$506

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Margaux Fontaine

Sans titre

Margaux Fontaine

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$185

Fine Art Drawings, Fille, Liubov Juravliova

Fille

Liubov Juravliova

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 9.1 x 0 inch

$520

Fine Art Drawings, Masque 2, Evelyne Postic

Masque 2

Evelyne Postic

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

$462

Fine Art Drawings, Retrouvailles, Maï

Retrouvailles

Maï

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

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Lever les yeux, Maï

Lever les yeux

Maï

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

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans Titre

Meteo Meteo

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

$121

Fine Art Drawings, Herma, Zo

Herma

Zo

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$561

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans Titre

Meteo Meteo

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

$121 $86

Fine Art Drawings, La vieille, Damien Berrard

La vieille

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

$87

Fine Art Drawings, N777, Maria Vanishvili

N777

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 43 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 16.9 x 0.1 inch

$555

Fine Art Drawings, N111, Maria Vanishvili

N111

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.9 x 0.1 inch

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Family, Edward Zelinsky

Family

Edward Zelinsky

Fine Art Drawings - 55.9 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 22 x 0.1 inch

$320

Fine Art Drawings, Party, Edward Zelinsky

Party

Edward Zelinsky

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

$350

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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.