LEONARDO da Vinci
(b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519, Cloux, near Amboise)

Study of an apostle's head and architectural study

1494-98
Red chalk, pen and ink on paper, 252 x 172 mm
Royal Library, Windsor

The head is a study for St James the Great in which Leonardo was concerned mainly with investigating the expression of the figure. The open mouth and widened gaze create the impression of astonishment. In addition, the sheet includes an architectural study in ink, a design for an aesthetic solution to the corner of a fortress wall, probably representing Leonardo the architect rather than Leonardo the builder of fortresses.