Study of horses for the Battle of Anghiari 1503

Editor: This is Leonardo da Vinci's "Study of Horses for the Battle of Anghiari," a pen and ink drawing from 1503. I am struck by the raw energy in these sketches; the horses appear wild and untamed. How do you interpret this work, focusing on its formal qualities? Curator: Considering its formal elements, we observe an intense dynamism achieved through line. Da Vinci masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to build volume and imply muscular tension. The composition itself, fragmented and overlapping, creates a sense of chaotic movement appropriate for studies of battle. Notice how the expressive quality of the lines is emphasized to amplify the violence, reflecting conflict between beast and man. What would you say about the composition choices within the framework? Editor: The overlapping, as you mentioned, definitely creates that feeling of layered movement. It feels almost frantic, less about individual figures and more about a collective energy. Does the repetition amplify any particular effect in your view? Curator: Precisely. The repetition reinforces the overwhelming sense of energy and controlled chaos that would likely transpire in battle. Consider how each repetition of the horse form becomes a variation on the theme of controlled aggression. The use of varied line thickness—thick outlines defining forms, and finer lines providing detail and texture—creates visual interest while contributing to the overall sense of depth. The sketch doesn't aspire to the Renaissance value of proportion, aiming at the animal's vital impulse and ferocity. Editor: That makes sense. It's interesting how the seemingly unfinished quality contributes to the sense of immediacy and force. I initially missed those crucial qualities in Da Vinci’s line. Curator: Indeed. It is a compelling piece that reminds us of how even sketches, seemingly unfinished works, can possess their own potent and intrinsic aesthetic value when observed by rigorous analysis of form.