Studies of the Paw of a Dog or Wolf

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)

Scottish National Gallery

circa 1490 - 1495

A double sided sheet of paws belonging to a dog or a wolf. Faced with a complex, organic form, it is characteristic of the artist not to simply make a straightforward study of a foot from a single aspect. Rather the foot is studied from different aspects, even from below on the reverse of the sheet, as he searches to penetrate below superficial description in order to grasp the underlying structures of the bony joints. The acquisition of such an unquestionably autograph drawing represents a fitting addition to the distinguished collection of drawings nurtured and researched so notably by the late Keith Andrews and Hugh Macandrew. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

• Medium: silverpoint on paper
• Dimensions: 14 x 11 cm
• Art Fund Grant: £100000 ( Total: £670,000; Tax Remission)
• ArtFunded in: 1992
• Vendor: Christie's

Provenance

Sir Thomas Lawrence; sold Christies 1860 to Lt. Col. N.R. Colville; by descent to James Colville.

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