Study of battles on horseback

The drawing captures two views of a rider wielding a scimitar, emphasizing the dynamic torsion of the body and the horse's musculature. Several peripheral studies focus on the intense facial expressions of soldiers, showing open mouths and furrowed brows that convey the rage of battle. These sketches served as preparatory material for Leonardo’s massive, ill-fated mural, The Battle of Anghiari.

These studies investigate 'pazzia bestialissima' (most beastly madness), Leonardo's term for war, which he viewed as a degradation of human nature into animalistic fury. They represent his natural philosophical approach to art, where the 'motions of the soul' (moti dell’animo) are documented through the rigorous observation of physiognomy and anatomy.