Study for the head of St Anne
Black chalk on paper, 18.8 x 13 cm, by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1510–15
The Royal Collection Trust, London

This drawing served as a preparatory study for da Vinci's unfinished painting The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne. It depicts the head and upper torso of Saint Anne, Virgin Mary's mother, in a three-quarter view tilted slightly downwards. Unlike the final, idealised portrayal in the painting, this study offers a more realistic depiction with a focus on the intricate folds of her headdress rather than elaborate hairstyles typically associated with saints. Leonardo's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the shading and rendering of her face, capturing a subtle expression of tenderness and contemplation. This study provides valuable insight into Leonardo's artistic process and the evolution of Saint Anne's characterisation before the final execution in the oil painting.

Provenance
Francesco Melzi
Pompeo Leoni, c. 1582-90
Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, by 1630
Probably Charles II, King of Great Britain
Royal Collection, by 1690

Source: The Royal Collection, 2023.