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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, Mistery, Hildegarde Handsaeme

Mistery

Hildegarde Handsaeme

Fine Art Drawings - 76 x 55 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

€520

Fine Art Drawings, Date, Nina Tsorieva

Date

Nina Tsorieva

Fine Art Drawings - 59 x 42 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.2 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch

€450 €383

Fine Art Drawings, TH25_002 (1), Thiroff

TH25_002 (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, La diva au coeur, Volt

La diva au coeur

Volt

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€140

Fine Art Drawings, Brahman, Viktor Goryaev

Brahman

Viktor Goryaev

Fine Art Drawings - 77 x 56 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30.3 x 22 x 0.1 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Afrikaans, Korede Solaja

Afrikaans

Korede Solaja

Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

€1,874

Fine Art Drawings, Selfie Queen, Katia Ferrari

Selfie Queen

Katia Ferrari

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

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Fleur, Monica

Fleur

Monica

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Épine de Vie, Inkanan Artist

Épine de Vie

Inkanan Artist

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Kimi Stichova

Sans titre

Kimi Stichova

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Poésie 34, Yanne Kintgen

Poésie 34

Yanne Kintgen

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 24 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,250

Fine Art Drawings, Yellow Man Car, Bault

Yellow Man Car

Bault

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 13 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 5.1 x 0 inch

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Pacific Sugar, Chloe Marsters

Pacific Sugar

Chloe Marsters

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 28.7 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.3 x 0.4 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Constellation, Flo. M

Constellation

Flo. M

Fine Art Drawings - 85 x 55 cm Fine Art Drawings - 33.5 x 21.7 inch

€2,100

Fine Art Drawings, Dans l'Océan, Amor de Agua

Dans l'Océan

Amor de Agua

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.3 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Network, Noe Borst

Network

Noe Borst

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, La bougie, Henriette Barety

La bougie

Henriette Barety

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

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Mona Lisa, Paulo Lionetti

Mona Lisa

Paulo Lionetti

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.6 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Baiser, Meriame Louattani

Baiser

Meriame Louattani

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

€110

Fine Art Drawings, Œdipe I, Guy Oberson

Œdipe I

Guy Oberson

Fine Art Drawings - 47.5 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.7 x 14.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Dove of peace, Mary Noga

Dove of peace

Mary Noga

Fine Art Drawings - 58 x 45 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.8 x 17.7 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Trump at Home, Blankman

Trump at Home

Blankman

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

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Nostalgia, Zena Dabbous

Nostalgia

Zena Dabbous

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 12 x 0 inch

€375

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Rudy Montoya

Untitled

Rudy Montoya

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 20.3 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 8 x 1 inch

€422

Fine Art Drawings, Femme assise, Antoniucci Volti

Femme assise

Antoniucci Volti

Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 53 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 20.9 x 0.4 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Stranded, Miel Maloberti

Stranded

Miel Maloberti

Fine Art Drawings - 90 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

€2,200

Fine Art Drawings, Lovers, Emilio Greco

Lovers

Emilio Greco

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

€6,500

Fine Art Drawings, Repos, Changzheng Zhu

Repos

Changzheng Zhu

Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0 inch

€125 €107

Fine Art Drawings, Laurette, Marie Renaud

Laurette

Marie Renaud

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Karl-Karol Chrobok

Woman

Karl-Karol Chrobok

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Mathilde, Guy Delaroque

Mathilde

Guy Delaroque

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Zhan, Frédéric Léglise

Zhan

Frédéric Léglise

Fine Art Drawings - 77 x 57 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30.3 x 22.4 inch

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, Le bain, Olena Siniuhina

Le bain

Olena Siniuhina

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 18 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.4 inch

€80

Fine Art Drawings, Nu II, Catherine Muguet

Nu II

Catherine Muguet

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

€290

Fine Art Drawings, Pamela, Jean-Luc Moerman

Pamela

Jean-Luc Moerman

Fine Art Drawings - 136 x 179 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 53.5 x 70.5 x 1.2 inch

€14,900

Fine Art Drawings, Pose 2, Nadine Defer

Pose 2

Nadine Defer

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Sanguine ref 1, Jean Laniau

Sanguine ref 1

Jean Laniau

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Numbness, Pompilio Gianluca

Numbness

Pompilio Gianluca

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

€280

Fine Art Drawings, The Dancer, Maurice Van Moppes

The Dancer

Maurice Van Moppes

Fine Art Drawings - 26.5 x 18.5 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.4 x 7.3 x 0.2 inch

€300 €225

Fine Art Drawings, Nu, Léon Séverac

Nu

Léon Séverac

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Nu, Simon Simon-Auguste

Nu

Simon Simon-Auguste

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

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Nu Asis, Kurt Hinrichsen

Nu Asis

Kurt Hinrichsen

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

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Liberation, Tatjana Rusakova

Liberation

Tatjana Rusakova

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

€80

Fine Art Drawings, Femme 1, Roger Decaux

Femme 1

Roger Decaux

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

€4,000

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

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Drifting (Papyrus), tizlu

Drifting (Papyrus)

tizlu

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

€880

Fine Art Drawings, Not With Me (Papyrus), tizlu

Not With Me (Papyrus)

tizlu

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

€880

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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.