Set of two lithographic prints comprising:
lithographic print of drawing by Leonardo da Vinci entitled Star of Bethlehem and other Plants, originally drawn c.1505-7
Acquired by Charles II, King England (1630-85). Bequeathed to Francesco Melzi; purchased by Pompeo Leoni, c.1582-90; Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel by 1630 and finally resting with The Royal Collection by 1690.Red chalk with pen and ink. During this time (1505-7), Leonardo was creating a number of studies of plants for the foreground of the painting Leda and the Swan, destroyed around 1700. Moving towards a more stylised structure the drawing illustrates the Star of Bethlehem with flowers growing from a draped ring of swirling leaves and grasses behind. To the left one identifies leaves of crowfoot and to the right wood anemone with spurge and detail of its individual flowers below.
Print size inches: 6.5 x 8 together with lithographic print of drawing by Leonardo da Vinci entitled A Woman in a Landscape, originally drawn c.1517-18
Acquired by Charles II, King England (1630-85). Bequeathed to Francesco Melzi; purchased by Pompeo Leoni, c.1582-90; Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel by 1630 and finally resting with The Royal Collection by 1690.Black chalk. Certainly one of Leonardo's last drawings created towards the very end of his life, probably in France where he died in 1519. The content of the sketch shows a young woman standing in a landscape pointing. It was said by Popham that this drawing 'represents the sum of that romantic feeling which underlies Leonardo's work as a painter and draughtsman'.
Print size inches: 5.5 x 8.4