Face of the Angel for the Virgin of the Rocks Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

This is a sketch of the head and shoulders of a young woman, rendered in black chalk on a light gray-brown paper. The style is characteristic of Leonardo da Vinci, with soft, sfumato-like shading creating a sense of volume and depth. The woman is depicted in a three-quarter profile, looking to her left with a gentle, enigmatic expression. Her hair is loosely tied back, with some locks falling forward, framing her face.
The subtext of this sketch, identified as a study for the Face of the Angel for the Virgin of the Rocks, lies in Leonardos meticulous process of capturing human emotion and anatomy. The sfumato technique, which he pioneered, not only adds realism but also contributes to the ethereal and almost divine quality of the figure, befitting an angelic portrayal. The subtle turning of the head and the direction of the gaze suggest a moment of contemplation or interaction, hinting at the narrative and emotional core of the larger painting this study was intended for. The unfinished nature of the sketch allows us to observe the artists working methods, focusing on the fundamental elements of form, light, and expression before the final execution in oil.