Group of riders in the Battle of Anghiari 1504

"Group of riders in the Battle of Anghiari" is a 1504 drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, a master of the High Renaissance. This piece depicts a scene from the 1440 Battle of Anghiari, a conflict between the Florentine and Milanese armies. A study for his much larger fresco commission, the drawing is rendered in pen and ink, highlighting da Vinci's masterful ability to capture movement and anatomy. The work highlights a central group of horses and riders, with the rest of the composition implied through a series of sketchy lines, characteristic of da Vinci's preparatory drawings. The piece showcases the artist's interest in the dynamics of battle and his technical skill in representing complex, multi-figured compositions.