Leonardo da Vinci: The bust of a man (1510)

(Royal Collection Trust, UK)

A drawing made by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Leonardo produced a large number of drawings of heads - male and female. Most of these were probably exercises in form and draughtsmanship simply for his own satisfaction. This one shows the head of a clean-shaven man, facing the viewer. He has a down-turned mouth and a mass of curly hair interspersed with ivy. In the top left corner is some illegible writing, and below, to the right, a lion's head is lightly sketched as if to suggest a skin worn by the man. Drawing from 1510.