Pen and brown ink, brown wash, stylus underdrawing in places, scratching out in some areas, inscribed with initials R.S lower margin, inscribed Leonardo dVinci on mount in pencil

204 x 165 mm (8 x 6 in.)

A number of specialists in the field of Lombard drawings have been consulted and the consensus of opinion is that the drawing dates to the mid 16th Century and was probably drawing by an artist from the Lombard school. There are clear echoes of the drawings and paintings by Leonardo and Bernardino Luini in the Virgins head. The scratching out of the drawing and the stylus under drawing are all very distinctive. There are certain elements of stiffness in the drawing and the composition, but this is rare to find a drawing so complete from this period.