Head of a Youth Wearing a Cap; a Right Forearm with the Hand Clutching a Stone; and a Left Hand Holding a Drapery 1480 - 1485

This delicate drawing, created by the Florentine master Sandro Botticelli sometime between 1480 and 1485, showcases the artist's masterful command of line and form. Depicting the head of a young man wearing a cap, with his right arm holding a stone and his left hand clutching a drapery, the composition is characterized by graceful, flowing lines and a subtle sense of melancholic beauty. The use of red chalk on a pale pink ground contributes to the soft, ethereal quality of the work, typical of Botticelli's style. This study, likely executed as preparation for a larger painting, demonstrates Botticelli's meticulous attention to anatomical detail and his ability to capture the essence of human expression.