Studies of the Leg of a Man and a Horse's Head (recto); sketches of the back of a man's left shoulder and a chained (?) figure.

Art Historical Context

This intriguing sheet from the second quarter of the 16th century offers a fascinating glimpse into the working methods of a Central Italian draftsman during the Renaissance. Created as a study page, the recto features careful observations of a man’s leg alongside a horse’s head rendered in a different ink, while the verso explores the back of a shoulder and a figure that appears chained. Such drawings reflect the period’s growing interest in anatomy and movement, as artists sought to capture both human and animal forms with greater naturalism. The artist employed a range of media—pen and bro...