Sketch of the Head of Saint Anne

This image is a nineteenth-century photographic reproduction of a red chalk drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. The face is rendered with soft, blended shadows to capture a moment of quiet introspection. It was created as a preparatory study for Leonardo's major painting, 'The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne'.

Leonardo’s studies of facial expressions reflect his interest in natural philosophy and the 'motions of the mind,' where physical gestures reveal internal spiritual states. This approach aligns with Neoplatonic ideas about the soul's manifestation through material beauty.