Artworks

All artworks

Artists

All artists

Galeries

All galleries

Categories

Subcategories

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.

Read more

Save your search and find it in your favorites

Saved search

Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches

Unsaved search

A problem occurred

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

$1,578 $1,421

Fine Art Drawings, The Wind, Kirill Postovit

The Wind

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$901

Fine Art Drawings, Duo, Valérie Hadida

Duo

Valérie Hadida

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

$1,466

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 09, Barbara Kroll

Portrait 09

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings - 54.9 x 34.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.6 x 13.7 x 0.1 inch

$680

Fine Art Drawings, Manhattan, Clara Castagné

Manhattan

Clara Castagné

Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$902

Fine Art Drawings, Regard à droite, Jéko

Regard à droite

Jéko

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

$1,353

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 202, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 202

Tarek Butayhi

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

$800

Fine Art Drawings, 01 janv. 88, Bernard Noël

01 janv. 88

Bernard Noël

Fine Art Drawings - 59 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.2 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$902

Fine Art Drawings, Bigbang, Mateo Andrea

Bigbang

Mateo Andrea

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

$733

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Reyner

Untitled

Reyner

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

$789

Fine Art Drawings, Confusion, Marta Grassi

Confusion

Marta Grassi

Fine Art Drawings - 66 x 46 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$676

Fine Art Drawings, Divinité I, Dasz Panda

Divinité I

Dasz Panda

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

$902

Fine Art Drawings, El secreto, Teo Franco

El secreto

Teo Franco

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$620

Fine Art Drawings, Stanza metafisica, Dr. Love

Stanza metafisica

Dr. Love

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 27 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch

$56

Fine Art Drawings, Star Study, Patsy McArthur

Star Study

Patsy McArthur

Fine Art Drawings - 66 x 55 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 21.7 inch

$1,353

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Repères, Hom Nguyen

Sans Repères

Hom Nguyen

Fine Art Drawings - 150 x 150 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

$29,765

Fine Art Drawings, Couple, René Gruau

Couple

René Gruau

Fine Art Drawings - 54 x 44 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.3 x 17.3 inch

$1,578

Fine Art Drawings, Bastet, Corné Akkers

Bastet

Corné Akkers

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

$1,598

Fine Art Drawings, Autoportrait, Frederic Weisz

Autoportrait

Frederic Weisz

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$902

Fine Art Drawings, Tenderness, Reinaldo Chavez

Tenderness

Reinaldo Chavez

Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 5.9 inch

$282

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages, Serge Pahnke

Personnages

Serge Pahnke

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 39.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 15.6 x 0.1 inch

$825

Fine Art Drawings, Les oreilles, AE2

Les oreilles

AE2

Fine Art Drawings - 120 x 150 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.6 inch

$733

Fine Art Drawings, Dusk, Brian Calvin

Dusk

Brian Calvin

Fine Art Drawings - 14.9 x 33.2 x 1.25 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 13.1 x 0.5 inch

$9,500

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, Søcø

Portrait 2

Søcø

Fine Art Drawings - 102 x 66 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 40.2 x 26 x 0.4 inch

$2,480

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

$1,015

Fine Art Drawings, 9 mois, Jean-Louis Toutain

9 mois

Jean-Louis Toutain

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$1,917

Fine Art Drawings, 02-Untitled, Aditi Lago

02-Untitled

Aditi Lago

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 39.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 15.6 x 0 inch

$1,353 $1,150

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

$958

Fine Art Drawings, Biunivoco, Lantomo

Biunivoco

Lantomo

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

$2,819

Fine Art Drawings, Cascade, Allen Jones

Cascade

Allen Jones

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 11 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 4.3 inch

$8,456

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bazooka Joe

Sans titre

Bazooka Joe

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,691

Fine Art Drawings, Serenity II, Karim Benchebra

Serenity II

Karim Benchebra

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

$1,150

Fine Art Drawings, Medusa 2, Lucio Forte

Medusa 2

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 17 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch

$135

Fine Art Drawings, Portraits 3, Ivan Afronskiy

Portraits 3

Ivan Afronskiy

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 24 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

$1,003

Fine Art Drawings, The Cash Machine, Otto Schade

The Cash Machine

Otto Schade

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$1,015

Fine Art Drawings, Asfixia, Vermibus

Asfixia

Vermibus

Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 28 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.2 inch

$1,015

Fine Art Drawings, Ecoute II, Bze Bzeland

Ecoute II

Bze Bzeland

Fine Art Drawings - 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$225

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Adam Nidzgorski

Sans titre

Adam Nidzgorski

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

$733

Fine Art Drawings, Mucha, Ramon Maiden

Mucha

Ramon Maiden

Fine Art Drawings - 43.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.1 x 11 inch

$846

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

$2,819

Fine Art Drawings, Lovegun, Dani André Skogfelt

Lovegun

Dani André Skogfelt

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 59 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 23.2 x 0 inch

$1,917

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, José María Mijares

Untitled

José María Mijares

Fine Art Drawings - 21.75 x 47.625 x 2.54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.6 x 18.8 x 1 inch

$6,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Duván López

Untitled

Duván López

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$676

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 2, Wang Fei

Untitled 2

Wang Fei

Fine Art Drawings - 97 x 235 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 38.2 x 92.5 x 0.4 inch

$38,334

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Charles Guerin

Woman

Charles Guerin

Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.1 x 8.7 x 0 inch

$891

Fine Art Drawings, Costume, Eugene Berman

Costume

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.5 x 4.6 x 0 inch

$676

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Menachem Gueffen

Sans titre

Menachem Gueffen

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11 x 0.4 inch

$654

Fine Art Drawings, Big Horns, Gouzy

Big Horns

Gouzy

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

$620

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Sasho Violetov

Untitled

Sasho Violetov

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 21.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

$496

Fine Art Drawings, Women, Guelfo Bianchini

Women

Guelfo Bianchini

Fine Art Drawings - 50.5 x 36 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.9 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

$902

1/32

Discover the styles & movements

more inspiration

Discover the selection of our experts

Painting, No Need To Hide, tizlu

No Need To Hide

tizlu

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,578

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

$1,578 $1,421

Print, Untiteled, JM Robert

Untiteled

JM Robert

Print - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$902

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.