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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  • Tim Bavington (b. 1966): Sketch For Makin' Out (With Blue)
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,500

    Tim Bavington (b. 1966): Sketch For Makin' Out (With Bl...

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,500
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $700
  • Guillaume Azoulay, "Sketch G" Framed Original Pen and Ink Drawing with Hand Laid Goldleaf, Hand Signed with Letter of Authenticity
    Estimate
    $6,360 - $7,950

    Guillaume Azoulay, "Sketch G" Framed Original Pen and I...

    Est.
    $6,360 - $7,950
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $765
  • Guillaume Azoulay, "Sketch E" Framed Original Pen and Ink Drawing with Hand Laid Goldleaf, Hand Signed with Letter of Authenticity
    Estimate
    $6,360 - $7,950

    Guillaume Azoulay, "Sketch E" Framed Original Pen and I...

    Est.
    $6,360 - $7,950
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $765
  • Important Albert Sterner charcoal sketch, Symbolist, 'Nun and Nude'
    Price$650

    Important Albert Sterner charcoal sketch, Symbolist, 'N...

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $650
  • Russian Cubist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$1,200

    Russian Cubist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphit...

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $1,200
  • Liubov Sergeevna Popova,, Russian Cubist Figures,Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$1,500

    Liubov Sergeevna Popova,, Russian Cubist Figures,Graphi...

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $1,500
  • Russian Cubist/Futurist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Charcoal/Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$3,800

    Russian Cubist/Futurist Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova...

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $3,800
  • Russian Cubist Seated Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, Graphite on paper, signed, Ca 1914
    Price$1,200

    Russian Cubist Seated Figure, Liubov Sergeevna Popova, ...

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $1,200
  • Paul Klee, Trio of Drawings, Ink on Paper, Signed LR
    Price$27,500

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

    King Art & Antiques
    Buy Now Price
    $27,500
  • Giovanni Fattori, Attributed: Soldier Sketch
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200

    Giovanni Fattori, Attributed: Soldier Sketch

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
    500 Gallery
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $200
  • Manner of Richard Diebenkorn: Golden Gate Bridge Sketch
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Manner of Richard Diebenkorn: Golden Gate Bridge Sketch...

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    500 Gallery
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $600
  • Guillaume Azoulay, "Preliminary Sketch BDCA" Framed Original Drawing, Hand Signed with Letter of Authenticity.
    Estimate
    $7,320 - $9,150

    Guillaume Azoulay, "Preliminary Sketch BDCA" Framed Ori...

    Est.
    $7,320 - $9,150
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $935
  • (4) Vogue style original fashion sketches
    Estimate
    $500 - $700

    (4) Vogue style original fashion sketches

    Est.
    $500 - $700
    Millea Bros. Ltd.
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • Rembrandt (follower), ink wash, collector's mark
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Rembrandt (follower), ink wash, collector's mark

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Millea Bros. Ltd.
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $500
  • Old Master School, ink and wash on paper
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Old Master School, ink and wash on paper

    Est.
    $400 - $600
    Millea Bros. Ltd.
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $200
  • Egon Schiele, Manner of:  Stehende Frau (Standing Woman)
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000

    Egon Schiele, Manner of: Stehende Frau (Standing Woman)...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Original Framed Sketch by S.S. Huntsman c. 1982
    Estimate
    $300 - $600

    Original Framed Sketch by S.S. Huntsman c. 1982

    Est.
    $300 - $600
  • Pablo Picasso Attributed: 27 Watercolor Sketches
    Estimate
    $25,000 - $35,000

    Pablo Picasso Attributed: 27 Watercolor Sketches

    Est.
    $25,000 - $35,000
  • Remington's Frontier Sketches, Frederic Remington
    Estimate
    $750 - $1,500

    Remington's Frontier Sketches, Frederic Remington

    Est.
    $750 - $1,500
  • Four Works on Paper, Various Artists
    Estimate
    $300 - $600

    Four Works on Paper, Various Artists

    Est.
    $300 - $600
  • Pierre Auguste Renoir, attributed, (French 1841-1919)
    Estimate
    $500 - $700

    Pierre Auguste Renoir, attributed, (French 1841-1919)

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Richard H. Bassett: Tree Study #4 Pattern
    Estimate
    $200 - $250

    Richard H. Bassett: Tree Study #4 Pattern

    Est.
    $200 - $250
  • Jervis McEntee Pencil Sketch Mountain Sketch 1858
    Estimate
    $100 - $1,000

    Jervis McEntee Pencil Sketch Mountain Sketch 1858

    Est.
    $100 - $1,000
  • Pencil Sketches
    Estimate
    $5 - $500

    Pencil Sketches

    Est.
    $5 - $500
  • Charcoal Sketch
    Estimate
    $5 - $500

    Charcoal Sketch

    Est.
    $5 - $500
  • Tasha Tudor Sketch
    Estimate
    $500 - $5

    Tasha Tudor Sketch

    Est.
    $500 - $5
  • Group of Two Sketches, Mexico
    Estimate
    $250 - $350

    Group of Two Sketches, Mexico

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Tasha Tudor Sketch
    Estimate
    $500 - $5

    Tasha Tudor Sketch

    Est.
    $500 - $5
  • Tasha Tudor Sketches
    Estimate
    $500 - $5

    Tasha Tudor Sketches

    Est.
    $500 - $5
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Preliminary sketch GAAD (line work sketch for the etching)"
    Estimate
    $3,200 - $4,000

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Prelimina...

    Est.
    $3,200 - $4,000
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Preliminary sketch GAAD (line work sketch for the etching)"
    Estimate
    $3,600 - $4,500

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Prelimina...

    Est.
    $3,600 - $4,500
  • Architectural Barn Sketch
    Estimate
    $50 - $75

    Architectural Barn Sketch

    Est.
    $50 - $75
  • Goldie Lipson Sketch
    Estimate
    $5 - $500

    Goldie Lipson Sketch

    Est.
    $5 - $500
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Preliminary sketch GAAD (line work sketch for the etching)"
    Estimate
    $3,200 - $4,000

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Drawing on Paper "Prelimina...

    Est.
    $3,200 - $4,000
  • Group of Architectural Sketches
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    Group of Architectural Sketches

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Original Henry Moore Sketch - Signed
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $3,000

    Original Henry Moore Sketch - Signed

    Est.
    $1,000 - $3,000
  • Architectural Barn Sketch
    Estimate
    $50 - $75

    Architectural Barn Sketch

    Est.
    $50 - $75
  • Architectural Barn Sketch
    Estimate
    $50 - $75

    Architectural Barn Sketch

    Est.
    $50 - $75