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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, Woman, Nicola Simbari

Woman

Nicola Simbari

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Dreaming woman, Dr. Love

Dreaming woman

Dr. Love

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€90

Fine Art Drawings, Plaid Shirt, Nathan Chantob

Plaid Shirt

Nathan Chantob

Fine Art Drawings - 59 x 56 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.2 x 22 x 0.4 inch

€3,200

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Francesc Genovés

Untitled

Francesc Genovés

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

€555

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Francesc Genovés

Untitled

Francesc Genovés

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

€555

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 08, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 08

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 28.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

€329

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 10, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 10

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 41.9 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch

€357

Fine Art Drawings, Grupos de amigos, Gabriel Rigo

Grupos de amigos

Gabriel Rigo

Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 51 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 20.1 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Retrato anónimo, Gabriel Rigo

Retrato anónimo

Gabriel Rigo

Fine Art Drawings - 51 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.1 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Dirty magic, Michael Alan

Dirty magic

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.5 x 0.04 inch

€1,600

Fine Art Drawings, Lulu, Corné Akkers

Lulu

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 21.1 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,569

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,571

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,556

Fine Art Drawings, Neo Deco 08-10-24, Corné Akkers

Neo Deco 08-10-24

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,540

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Sans Titre

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Dancers, Lali Kakubava

Silent Dancers

Lali Kakubava

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Moon Dancer, Lali Kakubava

Moon Dancer

Lali Kakubava

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Sun Dancer, Lali Kakubava

Sun Dancer

Lali Kakubava

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Mask, Tarek

Mask

Tarek

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Desolation, Juliane Hundertmark

Desolation

Juliane Hundertmark

Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 57 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 22.4 x 0 inch

€2,300

Fine Art Drawings, Fun, Juliane Hundertmark

Fun

Juliane Hundertmark

Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 57 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 22.4 x 0 inch

€2,300

Fine Art Drawings, Happy, Juliane Hundertmark

Happy

Juliane Hundertmark

Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 57 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 22.4 x 0 inch

€2,300

Fine Art Drawings, Tigered, Nino Eliashvili

Tigered

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Inner, Nino Eliashvili

Inner

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Lilac Green, Genny Puccini

Lilac Green

Genny Puccini

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

€680

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 16, Imad Fakhry

Untitled 16

Imad Fakhry

Fine Art Drawings - 55 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.7 x 15.7 inch

€751

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 11, Imad Fakhry

Untitled 11

Imad Fakhry

Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 16.5 inch

€751

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 12, Imad Fakhry

Untitled 12

Imad Fakhry

Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 16.5 inch

€751

Fine Art Drawings, Riding Together, Qing-Yan Li

Riding Together

Qing-Yan Li

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 68 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 26.8 x 0 inch

€1,650

Fine Art Drawings, Girl With a Cat, Qing-Yan Li

Girl With a Cat

Qing-Yan Li

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 68 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 26.8 x 0 inch

€1,650

Fine Art Drawings, Girl Named as Lily, Qing-Yan Li

Girl Named as Lily

Qing-Yan Li

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 68 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 26.8 x 0 inch

€1,650

Fine Art Drawings, Imago mortis, Sergio Barletta

Imago mortis

Sergio Barletta

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€5,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€5,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre

Philippe Pasqua

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 80 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€5,000

Fine Art Drawings, Madone, Evelyne Postic

Madone

Evelyne Postic

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Porcelaine - 2, Zo

Porcelaine - 2

Zo

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

€585

Fine Art Drawings, Porcelaine - 1, Zo

Porcelaine - 1

Zo

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

€585

Fine Art Drawings, Madone, Evelyne Postic

Madone

Evelyne Postic

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Heart vision, Zo

Heart vision

Zo

Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

€790

Fine Art Drawings, Mask, Tarek

Mask

Tarek

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

€180

Fine Art Drawings, Spain, my love, Damien Berrard

Spain, my love

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Lifebuoy Woman, Mino Maccari

Lifebuoy Woman

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 16 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 6.3 x 0 inch

€920

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Mohamed Lekleti

Untitled

Mohamed Lekleti

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

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, Scuba Diving, Gouzy

Scuba Diving

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, La fromagère, Gouzy

La fromagère

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Brian Calvin

Untitled

Brian Calvin

Fine Art Drawings - 33.2 x 14.9 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inch

€7,979 €7,580

Fine Art Drawings, Le Malheureux, Zafi

Le Malheureux

Zafi

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

€1,600

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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, 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

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.