Sketches

The stroke of an artist is often considered to be the purest representation of their abilities. A continuous line can evoke powerful emotions as it winds across a piece of paper or canvas. Consequently, it is not surprising that sketching occupies a central role in visual art. A drawing can be as simple and quick as a child's sketch or it can be as detailed and magnificent as the black-and-white studies that Leonardo da Vinci created during the Renaissance. Historically, sketching is the common denominator of both visual communication and physical product production. Despite their traditional, historical identification as preparatory works for other media, sketching in contemporary practice is becoming increasingly important as artworks on their own. Choose from antique sketches for sale at online auctions on Bidsquare to complement your contemporary or traditional décor. The new and vintage art pieces we offer are always authentic, high quality, and uniquely different. 

Monochromatic scale can give a piece of art an aura of timelessness and class. An artwork in black and white exhibits raw emotion with no distractions caused by colors. The drawings complement both bright and dim lighting and any colored wall. Bidsquare’s pencil drawings offer a variety of styles and a range of artists, so you will be sure to find a nature scene, portrait, or abstract design to suit your preferences. With our collection of unique art pieces, you can buy antique sketches that include everything from a traditional interior to an abstract pencil drawing. Place a beautiful black and white drawing above your fireplace or arrange a series of drawings with similar themes to create a cohesive look in your hallway. Bring life to your new artwork and your home with the right lighting solutions.

A Selection of Sketches by Famous Artists

Leonardo Da Vinci 

A painter, sculptor, scientist, and architect, Leonardo is best known for his painting of the Mona Lisa, his drawing Vitruvian Man, and the fresco The Last Supper (1495). Design for a Flying Machine, Sketch of a Flying Machine, Design for a Boat, and Stretching Device for a Barrel Spring are among the most famous of Da Vinci's sketches.

Raphael 

A famous high Renaissance Painter, Raphael is best known for his spatial geometry drawings and painting masterpieces like The Sistine Madonna (1513) and The Transfiguration. The artist drew a lot on paper, some of them intended for specific paintings, others to capture fleeting moments. These included Madonna and Child, Head and shoulders of a Young Woman, Madonna and Child w. John the Baptist, among others. 

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh's more than 1,100 drawings, although among his most innovative and striking works, are generally underappreciated in comparison with his paintings. Drawing and painting were integral parts of Van Gogh's creative process, which enabled him to fully appreciate the creative potential of both mediums. A variety of techniques were used by Van Gogh in his drawings, including black chalk, pencil, and other dark materials, as well as watercolors. It was with the pen, however, that he excelled most.  Aside from many preliminary sketches, Vincent van Gogh produced many drawings, including Bedroom in Arles, Couple Out for a Stroll, Windmills at Dordrecht, Carpenters Yard, and Laundry. etc. 

Edgar Degas

In his lifetime, Degas illustrated 38 sketchbooks during his illustrious career as one of the leading exponents of impressionism in French art. A great deal of his work survives today in pencil and pastel drawings of ballet dancers, milliners, and laundresses in Paris.

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  • William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Sketches for "The New Yorker" Magazine
    Estimate
    $600 - $800

    William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Sketches for "The New Yorker" Magazine

    Est.
    $600 - $800
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $300
  • William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Two Sketches for The New Yorker Magazine Covers, 1944 and 1946
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Two Sketches for The New Yorker Magazine Covers, 1944 and 1946

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $500
  • William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Four Pastel Sketches
    Estimate
    $500 - $700

    William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Four Pastel Sketches

    Est.
    $500 - $700
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Sketch for The New Yorker May 13, 1939 Cover
    Estimate
    $500 - $700

    William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Sketch for The New Yorker May 13, 1939 Cover

    Est.
    $500 - $700
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Five Pastel Sketches Featuring the Outdoors
    Estimate
    $700 - $900

    William Henry Cotton (American, 1880-1958), Five Pastel Sketches Featuring the Outdoors

    Est.
    $700 - $900
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $350
  • Percy Ives (American, 1864-1928) Pencil Sketch on Paper 1918, 'Berkshire Mountain Scene', H 7.25" W 10.25"
    Estimate
    $75 - $150

    Percy Ives (American, 1864-1928) Pencil Sketch on Paper 1918, 'Berkshire Mountain Scene', H 7.25" W 10.25"

    Est.
    $75 - $150
    DuMouchelles
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $30
  • Danish Pencil on Laid Paper 1855, 'Portrait of Jens Bloch Gjern, Age 28', H 5.75" W 3.5"
    Estimate
    $100 - $300

    Danish Pencil on Laid Paper 1855, 'Portrait of Jens Bloch Gjern, Age 28', H 5.75" W 3.5"

    Est.
    $100 - $300
    DuMouchelles
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • John "Jack" Keenan (American, 1919-2019) Ink and Watercolor Drawing 1945, 'Dog Lover', H 13" W 10"
    Estimate
    $100 - $300

    John "Jack" Keenan (American, 1919-2019) Ink and Watercolor Drawing 1945, 'Dog Lover', H 13" W 10"

    Est.
    $100 - $300
    DuMouchelles
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $50
  • Important Albert Sterner charcoal sketch, Symbolist, 'Nun and Nude'
    Price$650

    Important Albert Sterner charcoal sketch, Symbolist, 'Nun and Nude'

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $650
  • Fox Hunting Scene Graphite Sketch - Signed W. M.
    Estimate
    $50 - $150

    Fox Hunting Scene Graphite Sketch - Signed W. M.

    Est.
    $50 - $150
    East Wing Estate Sales & Au...
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $25
  • Four (4) James H. Donahey (American, 1875-1949) Political Cartoon Original Illustrations, 1930s
    Estimate
    $250 - $500

    Four (4) James H. Donahey (American, 1875-1949) Political Cartoon Original Illustrations, 1930s

    Est.
    $250 - $500
    Annex Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • Robert W. Richards (American, 1941-2019)
    Estimate
    $300 - $500

    Robert W. Richards (American, 1941-2019)

    Est.
    $300 - $500
    Vallot Auctioneers
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $150
  • Richard Rosenfeld (American, b. 1945)
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Richard Rosenfeld (American, b. 1945)

    Est.
    $400 - $600
    Vallot Auctioneers
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $200
  • Russian Cubist Seated Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$3,000

    Russian Cubist Seated Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $3,000
  • Liubov Sergeevna Popova,, Russian Cubist Figures,Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$3,000

    Liubov Sergeevna Popova,, Russian Cubist Figures,Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $3,000
  • Russian Cubist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$3,000

    Russian Cubist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $3,000
  • Richard Rosenfeld (American, b. 1945)
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Richard Rosenfeld (American, b. 1945)

    Est.
    $400 - $600
    Vallot Auctioneers
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $200
  • Attributed to Charles Buckles Falls (American, 1874-1960) Early 20th-Century Original Ink Illustrations
    Estimate
    $100 - $250

    Attributed to Charles Buckles Falls (American, 1874-1960) Early 20th-Century Original Ink Illustrations

    Est.
    $100 - $250
    Annex Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • The Hun (William Schmeling) (American, 1938-2019)
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200

    The Hun (William Schmeling) (American, 1938-2019)

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
    Vallot Auctioneers
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $400
  • Paul Klee, Trio of Drawings, Ink on Paper, Signed LR
    Price$22,500

    Paul Klee, Trio of Drawings, Ink on Paper, Signed LR

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $22,500
  • 3 William Sommer (American, 1867-1949) pencil sketches
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    3 William Sommer (American, 1867-1949) pencil sketches

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • 7 Art Deco Industrial Design Sketches by Wehrle New York City
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    7 Art Deco Industrial Design Sketches by Wehrle New York City

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Charles Russell, Four Sketches, c. 1888-1890
    Estimate
    $18,000 - $25,000

    Charles Russell, Four Sketches, c. 1888-1890

    Est.
    $18,000 - $25,000
    9 Bids
    Sold for
    $19,000
  • Buck McCain, "Chimayo" Preliminary Charcoal Sketch
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200
  • German WW2 Period Hand Drawing Pencil Sketch of Adolf Hitler Early War by Enrico Nardi

    German WW2 Period Hand Drawing Pencil Sketch of Adolf Hitler Early War by Enrico Nardi

  • A. C. Gentry, Farmhouse Scene
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $2,000

    A. C. Gentry, Farmhouse Scene

    Est.
    $1,000 - $2,000
    4 Bids
    Sold for
    $475
  • Clyde Singer (American, 1908-1999) pen and ink
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Clyde Singer (American, 1908-1999) pen and ink

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Leonard Lieb Large Group of Human Form Studies
    Estimate
    $60 - $100

    Leonard Lieb Large Group of Human Form Studies

    Est.
    $60 - $100
  • Enrico Glicenstein Tree of Life Book with Original Illustrations
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Enrico Glicenstein Tree of Life Book with Original Illustrations

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Peggy Bacon (USA, 1895-1987) A Double Life Drawing of Kenneth Hayes Miller
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Peggy Bacon (USA, 1895-1987) A Double Life Drawing of Kenneth Hayes Miller

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Samuel Howitt (British, 1765-1822) Watercolor Lion and Bear in a Landscape
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Samuel Howitt (British, 1765-1822) Watercolor Lion and Bear in a Landscape

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Margery Ryerson (USA, 1886-1989) Charcoal Drawing of Child at Grand Piano with Dog
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Margery Ryerson (USA, 1886-1989) Charcoal Drawing of Child at Grand Piano with Dog

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Kate Greenaway (UK, 1846-1901) Watercolor Illustration of Young Girl
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Kate Greenaway (UK, 1846-1901) Watercolor Illustration of Young Girl

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Charles Russell, Handwritten Letter from 1910
    Estimate
    $6,000 - $10,000

    Charles Russell, Handwritten Letter from 1910

    Est.
    $6,000 - $10,000
    11 Bids
    Sold for
    $20,000
  • Ragan Gennusa, Cowboys in Snow
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $4,000

    Ragan Gennusa, Cowboys in Snow

    Est.
    $2,000 - $4,000
    7 Bids
    Sold for
    $1,200
  • Louis-Marie Désiré-Lucas (1869–1949) French, Charcoal Portrait of a Man
    Estimate
    $60 - $90

    Louis-Marie Désiré-Lucas (1869–1949) French, Charcoal Portrait of a Man

    Est.
    $60 - $90
  • Charles Russell, Bighorn Sheep
    Estimate
    $20,000 - $25,000

    Charles Russell, Bighorn Sheep

    Est.
    $20,000 - $25,000
    19 Bids
    Sold for
    $30,000
  • Ira Moskowitz Watercolor on Paper Rabbi
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Ira Moskowitz Watercolor on Paper Rabbi

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Adam Brenner (1800-1891) Interior Scene Sketch
    Estimate
    $200 - $300

    Adam Brenner (1800-1891) Interior Scene Sketch

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Jose Vives-Atsara, Catalonian Village Sketch
    Estimate
    $600 - $800

    Jose Vives-Atsara, Catalonian Village Sketch

    Est.
    $600 - $800
    11 Bids
    Sold for
    $550
  • Hand Drawn Skeleton Anatomical Sketch by Helen Clarke
    Estimate
    $100 - $250
  • Esphyr Slobodkina 1930s Work on Paper Mural Sketch #3
    Estimate
    $1,200 - $1,800

    Esphyr Slobodkina 1930s Work on Paper Mural Sketch #3

    Est.
    $1,200 - $1,800
  • Two Framed Ink Sketch by American Cartoonist Rex Babin (b1962-2012)
    Estimate
    $50 - $100

    Two Framed Ink Sketch by American Cartoonist Rex Babin (b1962-2012)

    Est.
    $50 - $100
  • Willard Metcalf Sketches of Maine
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Willard Metcalf Sketches of Maine

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    2 Bids
    Sold for
    $500