A costume study for a masque
Black chalk, pen and ink, wash, on rough paper | RCIN 912575
Leonardo spent his last years at the French court in the Loire valley. Among many other activities, he designed fantastical costumes for the festivities held by the king, Francis I. This study was presumably used as a model by the king’s seamstresses, as it corresponds closely to descriptions of the extravagant costumes worn at these events.