LEONARDO DA VINCI (VINCI 1452-AMBOISE 1519)
A design for a dragon costume
c.1517-18RCIN 912369
The young King Francis I held several lavish entertainments while Leonardo was working as his court artist. Contemporary descriptions of the costumes worn at these events correspond in their general effect and in many details to Leonardo’s drawings. This is probably an idea for a costume to house two men, in the manner of a Chinese festival lion.
watermark: Letter A in a circle, surmounted by a P. Briquet 9608 (Milan 1495-1501, Venice 1499) [Codex Arundel 98/103 232 (bottom)]