Heads of Horses and Unicorns

Heads of Horses and Unicorns, executed between 1530 and 1540 by an Italian Follower of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), is an exceptional example of High Renaissance drawing technique. The meticulous rendering demonstrates the lasting influence of the master’s observational and anatomical precision on his subsequent school of followers. The medium consists of pen and brown ink applied to tan laid paper, which has been historically laid down onto a cream laid paper support, reflecting common conservation practices of previous centuries.

The drawing presents multiple animal profiles studied with careful attention to muscular structure and form. These sketches include several detailed equine heads juxtaposed with the fantastical, yet equally realistic, depiction of a mythological unicorn. Such preparatory studies were vital components of the Renaissance workshop practice in Italy, serving both as instructional material for pupils and as source material for complex compositions destined for paintings or tapestries. The precision and quality of execution confirm the identity of the artist as a highly skilled associate operating within the core of Leonardo’s milieu.

Created roughly a decade after the death of the renowned 1452-1519, this sheet confirms the continuation of his aesthetic legacy into the emerging Mannerist period. The practice of copying or adapting Leonardo’s drawings was widespread, solidifying the master's aesthetic principles across northern Italy. This historically significant work is currently housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. For scholarly access, high-quality archival prints of the drawing are often digitized and released into the public domain, enabling global study of this crucial aspect of post-Leonardesque production.