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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, Modella, 1975, Paolo Ambrosio

Modella, 1975

Paolo Ambrosio

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€117

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Amanda Stalter

Untitled

Amanda Stalter

Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Antonio Mellone

Woman

Antonio Mellone

Fine Art Drawings - 48.5 x 33.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.1 x 13.2 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Sketches, Paul Garin

Sketches

Paul Garin

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 26.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 10.4 x 0.1 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Aux arts, citoyens !, ARySQUE

Aux arts, citoyens !

ARySQUE

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 80 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Au lever, Paul Perraudin

Au lever

Paul Perraudin

Fine Art Drawings - 23.5 x 31.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.3 x 12.4 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Nimeño II, José Pirès

Nimeño II

José Pirès

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 44 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 17.3 inch

€490

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Montserrat Gudiol

Untitled

Montserrat Gudiol

Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 48 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€3,800

Fine Art Drawings, Drawing I, Nigel Howlett

Drawing I

Nigel Howlett

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 20 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 7.9 x 0.5 inch

€3,286 €1,807

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Jean Lasnier

Portrait

Jean Lasnier

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Serge Gainsbourg, Alain Robet

Serge Gainsbourg

Alain Robet

Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.5 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Bubble Queen, Andy Berrend

Bubble Queen

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, Send Noods, Raphaelle Emery

Send Noods

Raphaelle Emery

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Wahou, Maï

Wahou

Maï

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Gremlins, Karine Nicolleau

Gremlins

Karine Nicolleau

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Simple Uncle Sam, Jeff Ladouceur

Simple Uncle Sam

Jeff Ladouceur

Fine Art Drawings - 27.3 x 22.2 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inch

€4,224 €2,323

Fine Art Drawings, Emergence, Sandra Paris

Emergence

Sandra Paris

Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 18 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

€179

Fine Art Drawings, Homeland, Valeria Radzievska

Homeland

Valeria Radzievska

Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 14 x 0.2 inch

€329

Fine Art Drawings, Desperate, Lucien Coutaud

Desperate

Lucien Coutaud

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€360 €270

Fine Art Drawings, Seated Woman, Suzie Bernardeau

Seated Woman

Suzie Bernardeau

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 12.4 x 0 inch

€280 €224

Fine Art Drawings, The winner, Will Street

The winner

Will Street

Fine Art Drawings - 35.56 x 27.94 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Walk, Louis Jou

Walk

Louis Jou

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

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Dalil, Andrih Thayfinin

Dalil

Andrih Thayfinin

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Bruno Beran

Woman

Bruno Beran

Fine Art Drawings - 16 x 6.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.3 x 2.6 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Sepulchre, Alfred Pichon

Sepulchre

Alfred Pichon

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 27 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€480

Fine Art Drawings, Clare, Lewis Scott

Clare

Lewis Scott

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

€1,350

Fine Art Drawings, Homer's Head, David Sipko

Homer's Head

David Sipko

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€277

Fine Art Drawings, Post Mortem VI, Vavjeniak

Post Mortem VI

Vavjeniak

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Man machine, Louis Durand

Man machine

Louis Durand

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€380 €285

Fine Art Drawings, A Moto !, Pierre Lelong

A Moto !

Pierre Lelong

Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.3 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Christian, Camille Schaeffer

Christian

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, Two Women, Paul César Helleu

Two Women

Paul César Helleu

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€9,500

Fine Art Drawings, Le Soir, Louis Pons

Le Soir

Louis Pons

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 65 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

€6,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sunday Service, Ayoka Zahir

Sunday Service

Ayoka Zahir

Fine Art Drawings - 58 x 42 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€330

Fine Art Drawings, Red Dress, Gill Wright

Red Dress

Gill Wright

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Bang, Odin Pigelet

Bang

Odin Pigelet

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Bethani, Christine Connelly

Bethani

Christine Connelly

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

€290

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, La Sieste, Jules Mimouni

La Sieste

Jules Mimouni

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€1,250

Fine Art Drawings, Emprise, Min Kyoung Lee

Emprise

Min Kyoung Lee

Fine Art Drawings - 57 x 47 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.4 x 18.5 x 1 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Collegiate, Tina Loiodice

Collegiate

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, Vital, Carol Damar Bitre

Vital

Carol Damar Bitre

Fine Art Drawings - 53 x 43 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.9 x 16.9 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Tête de femme, Verog

Tête de femme

Verog

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€210

Fine Art Drawings, Brian May, Caroline St-Pierre

Brian May

Caroline St-Pierre

Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 20.3 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 8 x 1 inch

€301

Fine Art Drawings, Teiss, Youssef Boubekeur

Teiss

Youssef Boubekeur

Fine Art Drawings - 129 x 89 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 35 x 2 inch

€7,200

Fine Art Drawings, Sagesse, Erdna André

Sagesse

Erdna André

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

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Jacqueline Gainon

Sans titre

Jacqueline Gainon

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 39.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 15.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Romain Duris

Untitled

Romain Duris

Fine Art Drawings - 29.6 x 20.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8 inch

€2,000

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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.