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

    Adam Brenner (1800-1891) Interior Scene Sketch

    Est.
    $200 - $300
    Locati LLC
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $100
  • 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
    Annex Auctions
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $30
  • Edgar Louis Yaegar (American/Detroit, 1904-1997) Pencil Sketches on Paper 1925-1936, 'Impressionist, Cubist, Still Life, and Figural Themes', H 11" W
    Estimate
    $100 - $400

    Edgar Louis Yaegar (American/Detroit, 1904-1997) Pencil Sketches on Paper 1925-1936, 'Impressionist, Cubist, Still Life, and Figural Themes', H 11" W

    Est.
    $100 - $400
    DuMouchelles
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • Willard Metcalf Sketches of Maine
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Willard Metcalf Sketches of Maine

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Brunk Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $500
  • Francis De Erdely (Hungarian-American, 1904-1959) Pastel Sketches on Paper, Ca. 1942, 'Sir Anton Dolin and Irina Baronova, Léonide Massine', H 13" W
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Francis De Erdely (Hungarian-American, 1904-1959) Pastel Sketches on Paper, Ca. 1942, 'Sir Anton Dolin and Irina Baronova, Léonide Massine', H 13" W

    Est.
    $200 - $400
    DuMouchelles
    2 Bids
    Current Bid
    $125
  • Conte Crayon Sketch on Paper, Study of the Female Figure, Mid 20th C., H 14" W 6"
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    Conte Crayon Sketch on Paper, Study of the Female Figure, Mid 20th C., H 14" W 6"

    Est.
    $100 - $200
    DuMouchelles
    0 Bids
    Starting 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
  • (4) Gale Hendrickson Portrait Sketches
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    $100 - $300

    (4) Gale Hendrickson Portrait Sketches

    Est.
    $100 - $300
    SebastianCharles Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • Mae Alice Engron Drawings
    Estimate
    $20 - $100

    Mae Alice Engron Drawings

    Est.
    $20 - $100
    Sheafer + King Modern
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $10
  • 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
  • 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
  • Wells Moses Sawyer (1863-1960) American, Watercolor Landscape Sketch "On the Amalfi Drive"
    Estimate
    $200 - $300

    Wells Moses Sawyer (1863-1960) American, Watercolor Landscape Sketch "On the Amalfi Drive"

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • 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
  • 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

  • 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
  • Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938) American, Graphite on Paper Rural House Landscape
    Estimate
    $450 - $600

    Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938) American, Graphite on Paper Rural House Landscape

    Est.
    $450 - $600
  • 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
  • Ira Moskowitz Watercolor on Paper Rabbi
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Ira Moskowitz Watercolor on Paper Rabbi

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Jose Vives-Atsara, Catalonian Village Sketch
    Estimate
    $600 - $800

    Jose Vives-Atsara, Catalonian Village Sketch

    Est.
    $600 - $800
    11 Bids
    Sold for
    $550
  • 20 Gladys Rockmore Davis (American, 1901-1967)  sketches
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    20 Gladys Rockmore Davis (American, 1901-1967) sketches

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • 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
  • Wells Moses Sawyer (1863–1960) American, Watercolor Sketch of Coffeyville, Kansas
    Estimate
    $200 - $300

    Wells Moses Sawyer (1863–1960) American, Watercolor Sketch of Coffeyville, Kansas

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Guillaume Azoulay (Moroccan, 1949- ) drawing
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    Guillaume Azoulay (Moroccan, 1949- ) drawing

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Clyde Singer (American, 1908-1999) tempera
    Estimate
    $300 - $600

    Clyde Singer (American, 1908-1999) tempera

    Est.
    $300 - $600
  • M. Parel Ink Drawing on Paper 1979, H 18" W 12.5"
    Estimate
    $100 - $200
  • George Washington Sully (American, 1816-1890) watercolor
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    George Washington Sully (American, 1816-1890) watercolor

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Atlee B. Ayres, Architectural Drawings
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Atlee B. Ayres, Architectural Drawings

    Est.
    $400 - $600
    6 Bids
    Sold for
    $300
  • Jacqui von Honts, Watergate Trials Courtroom Art
    Estimate
    $300 - $500