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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, Party, Leonardo Aliaga

Party

Leonardo Aliaga

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 14.2 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Pepino II, Leonardo Aliaga

Pepino II

Leonardo Aliaga

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 14.2 inch

€480

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Menachem Gueffen

Sans titre

Menachem Gueffen

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Tête 1, Louis Pons

Tête 1

Louis Pons

Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 16 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.7 x 6.3 x 0.4 inch

€280

Fine Art Drawings, The Red, Tina Loiodice

The Red

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, 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, 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, Paloma, Andy Berrend

Paloma

Andy Berrend

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

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Marcus & Markus, Andy Berrend

Marcus & Markus

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Juju the robot, Andy Berrend

Juju the robot

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Dwight, Andy Berrend

Dwight

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Khadija, Andy Berrend

Khadija

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Mlikayya 1er, Andy Berrend

Mlikayya 1er

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Evaëlle, Andy Berrend

Evaëlle

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Massinissa !!, Andy Berrend

Massinissa !!

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Qalbi de Cirta, Andy Berrend

Qalbi de Cirta

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Saskia, Christine Connelly

Saskia

Christine Connelly

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 inch

€290

Fine Art Drawings, In the car, Mr Popart

In the car

Mr Popart

Fine Art Drawings - 13.2 x 15.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.2 x 6.1 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Punk, Mr Popart

Punk

Mr Popart

Fine Art Drawings - 6.5 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 2.6 x 5.9 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Mister G, Mr Popart

Mister G

Mr Popart

Fine Art Drawings - 6.6 x 15.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 2.6 x 6.1 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Bad Santa, Mr Popart

Bad Santa

Mr Popart

Fine Art Drawings - 15.5 x 6.6 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.1 x 2.6 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Enfant, Isabelle De Luca

Enfant

Isabelle De Luca

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

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Lunaire, Isabelle De Luca

Lunaire

Isabelle De Luca

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

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Besame mucho, Rilda Paco

Besame mucho

Rilda Paco

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.7 inch

€490

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Alexandre Moulis

Sans titre

Alexandre Moulis

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Alexandre Moulis

Sans titre

Alexandre Moulis

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Simone Veil.le, Mr Popart

Simone Veil.le

Mr Popart

Fine Art Drawings - 6.5 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 2.6 x 5.9 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Crazy, Odin Pigelet

Crazy

Odin Pigelet

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€180

Fine Art Drawings, Ragazzo, 1975, Paolo Ambrosio

Ragazzo, 1975

Paolo Ambrosio

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Festive, Ekaterina Shitova

Festive

Ekaterina Shitova

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Maud.e d'Ibiza, Andy Berrend

Maud.e d'Ibiza

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Linda d' Ibiza, Andy Berrend

Linda d' Ibiza

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Gaïa, Andy Berrend

Gaïa

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Ank'Poo, Andy Berrend

Ank'Poo

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Vat'Poo, Andy Berrend

Vat'Poo

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Bap'Poo, Andy Berrend

Bap'Poo

Andy Berrend

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Spider Berrend, Andy Berrend

Spider Berrend

Andy Berrend

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

€190

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, Solis ortu, Orphné Achéron

Solis ortu

Orphné Achéron

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 11.8 inch

€650

Fine Art Drawings, Pensive, Erdna André

Pensive

Erdna André

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Mark, Camille Schaeffer

Mark

Camille Schaeffer

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, TH25_003 (1) (1), Thiroff

TH25_003 (1) (1)

Thiroff

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Dollhair, Lef Draw

Dollhair

Lef Draw

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Pensif, Erdna André

Pensif

Erdna André

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€500

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, Homme lune, Odin Pigelet

Homme lune

Odin Pigelet

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

€50

Fine Art Drawings, Teenager style, Odin Pigelet

Teenager style

Odin Pigelet

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

€50

Fine Art Drawings, Moka, Odin Pigelet

Moka

Odin Pigelet

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€100

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Painting, L'esprit Déchaîné, tizlu

L'esprit Déchaîné

tizlu

Painting - 50 x 35 x 2.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.9 inch

€1,680

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

€1,600

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, Orlando, Galya Popova

Orlando

Galya Popova

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

€2,400

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.