The Study of a Drapery of a Figure Kneeling 1475

Leonardo da Vinci made this "Study of Drapery" with pen, ink and wash on linen. He carefully studied and meticulously represented the way fabric falls and folds; the weight and texture implied. The drape's artistic virtuosity is evident in the rendering of light and shadow to create depth and volume, giving a tactile quality to the image. Leonardo approached this study with the rigor of a scientist. He was fascinated by the way that the material world obeyed physical laws. Note the material presence in the way that the ink bleeds into the linen support. Drawings like this were not just preparatory, but also served as a form of intellectual property. In Leonardo's time, designs were valuable commodities, and the ability to capture them accurately was a skill in high demand. This artwork blurs the line between fine art and design, inviting us to consider the economic context in which it was created.