Study of drapery

Manner of Leonardo da Vinci

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society between 1906 and 1907 of a drawing in the manner of Leonardo da Vinci originally dating from about 1480. The drawing shows a figure turned towards the left wearing a long cloak, which trails on the floor. The cloak is the focus of the image and the left side of the figure is only simply drawn in. The cloak is folded over the shoulder to create a thick collar and is rolled back at the sleeve. The folds and creases of the material are studied in detail and the artist has used white in these areas to pick out the highlights. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 3 MANNER OF LEONARDO DA VINCI (Circa 1480) STUDY OF DRAPERY British Museum, 1895-9-15-489. From the Richardson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Thos. Lawrence, King of Holland, and Malcolm Collections. Brush drawing heightened with white, on linen. 28.2 x 19.3 cm. (11 1/8 x 7 5/8 in.) Vasari in his account of Leonardo's youth describes his habit of drawing from models in clay draped with wet, worn linen stiffened with clay. 'These he set himself to draw with great patience on a particular kind of very fine Rheims cloth ... in black and white with the point of a brush, to a marvel.' [1] Some eight notable drawings executed in this manner are exhibited in the Uffizi and the Louvre under Leonardo's name; these should be variously described as by Leonardo and Lorenzo di Credi (under Leonardo's influence), whilst some are old contemporary copies of their drawings. It is worth noting that there are no Milanese imitations of this method, and that these paintings on linen invariably reflect the early period of Leonardo's career. In the drawing here reproduced, the bounding and cursive outline indications are in the manner of Leonardo, but the highly finished draperies are too flat, too empty, and show the 'chalky' lights which we associate with the work of Credi. I would venture, therefore, to class this drawing with two studies on linen in the Uffizi (Nos. 431, 434), in which Credi is the imitator of Leonardo. In the major folds of the draperies, i.e. from the elbow downwards, of this beautiful study we shall recognize the main features of the cloak of the Madonna in the enchanting little 'Annunciation' in the Louvre, generally ascribed to Leonardo, but in the opinion of the present writer a close approximation to his manner by his fellow pupil and sometimes imitator, Lorenzo do Credi. C.R. [1] Horne, Leonardo da Vinci, p. 11."