Study of Two Men in Discussion

This drawing shows two figures in conversation, with one man viewed from behind gesturing toward his companion in a dynamic pose. Below them is a distinct, expressive study of a Medusa head with wild, snaky hair and an open mouth. The sheet represents the artist's working process, capturing both human interaction and mythological iconography on a single page.

This sheet contains preparatory studies for Raphael's frescoes in the Stanza della Segnatura, specifically the Disputa and The School of Athens. The Medusa head was designed for the shield of the statue of Minerva, symbolizing the divine wisdom that presides over the gathered philosophers of the Neoplatonic tradition.