A Bear Walking by Leonardo da Vinci

A Bear Walking

Leonardo da Vinci · 1477

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“Stop and observe this small, exquisite silverpoint drawing of a bear. It's a testament to the artist's meticulous observation of the natural world, capturing the animal's movement and texture with remarkable precision.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

A bear lumbers across the page, its head lowered, seemingly caught mid-stride. This small but captivating drawing, rendered in silverpoint, shows the animal in profile, its powerful form suggested by the delicate lines. The light buff paper provides a warm ground for the precise silverpoint, a technique that creates incredibly fine, shimmering marks. The bear’s fur is depicted with a series of short, overlapping strokes, giving a sense of its texture and the play of light across its body. This study of an animal, likely drawn from life, reflects a keen observational eye. It captures the essence of the creature's movement and bulk, making it feel remarkably present despite its modest scale.

DETAILS
Artist
Leonardo da Vinci
Date
1477
Medium
silverpoint on light buff prepared paper
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
4 1/16 x 5 1/4 in. (10.3 x 13.3 cm)
Collection
Robert Lehman Collection
Credit line
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
ART MOVEMENTS
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What to Notice

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A Bear Walking

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01

The alert face

Look at the small eye and the pointed snout, drawn with a few fine lines. The head is turned slightly down, which gives the bear a watchful, curious look.

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02

Hatched shoulder fur

Short, angled strokes sweep up the neck and shoulder into a tuft of fur. The lines follow the direction the hair grows, so the flat paper feels shaggy.

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03

Shaded belly and flank

Dense diagonal hatching shades the shoulder, flank and belly, while the back and rump are left as a light outline. The contrast gives the body weight and roundness.

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04

The separate paw study

At lower left, a lone paw with long curved claws sits apart from the bear. It looks like a separate study, perhaps a close look at how the claws are drawn.

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05

Raised front leg

The lifted front leg is drawn in lighter lines and ends in a loose, scribbly paw. It catches the bear mid-step.

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THE ARTIST

Leonardo da Vinci

1452–1519 · Republic of Florence

Leonardo da Vinci, the ultimate Renaissance polymath, filled notebooks with observations on everything from anatomy to flight, alongside masterpieces like the 'Mona Lisa'.

Read da Vinci’s full story
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