Compositional Sketches for the Virgin Adoring the Christ Child, with and without the Infant St. John the Baptist; Diagram of a Perspectival Projection (recto); Slight Doodles (verso)

This drawing, made around 1480, offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of a Renaissance master. We see multiple attempts to arrange the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, sometimes including the infant Saint John the Baptist. The figures are rendered in silverpoint, a delicate technique that leaves a faint, silvery line, here on pink prepared paper. Notice how the artist has reworked some areas with pen and ink, deepening contours and adjusting poses, revealing an active mind at work. These aren't finished compositions, but rather a series of experiments, exploring the flow of drapery, the interaction between the figures, and the emotional connection of the holy family. The verso, or back of the sheet, even includes a diagram for a perspectival projection, highlighting the artist's deep engagement with both anatomical study and the scientific principles of representation.