Studies of a Horse's Hindquarters and Hind Legs
Four red-chalk studies of the rump, haunches, and hind legs
The Biblioteca Reale catalogues this sheet as studies of the hind legs of a horse (ca. 1508-1517), associating it with Leonardo and his pupil Francesco Melzi. Drawn in red chalk, it gathers four studies of a horse's hindquarters seen from behind and in profile, showing the swelling of the rump and haunch and the muscular hind legs, some with the hoof set to the ground. No writing appears on the sheet.
On this page
Hindquarters and haunches
The upper studies show the horse's rump, tail, and upper hind legs in red chalk, the great muscles of the haunch modelled in soft shading. The forms are studied twice to fix their swell and set.
Hind leg, hock, and hoof
The lower studies follow the hind leg down through the hock to the fetlock and hoof, one leg planted on the ground. They concentrate on the muscular structure of the leg in movement.