Study for the Madonna of the Cat

Study for the Madonna of the Cat is a set of two drawings by Leonardo da Vinci on both sides (front and back) of a sheet of paper 13 centimeters high and 9.4 centimeters wide. The two drawings were made in pen and brown ink, on a preparatory drawing in stylus, with a brown wash on the back. This is one of the six works of Leonardo da Vinci showing the Virgin and Child playing with a cat or carrying it. A mirror symmetry between the drawings of the two faces is visible by transparency. The Study for the Madonna of the Cat is currently held at the British Museum in London under inventory number 1856,0621.1.^[1][2] The creative and scientific processes underlying the drawing Madonna of the Cat have been discussed by many art historians, including Kenneth Clark, Martin Kemp, Carmen Bambach and Larry Feinberg.^[3][4][5][6]

ArtistLeonardo da Vinci

Yearc. 1478–1481

Mediumpen and brown ink, on a preparatory drawing in stylus, with a brown wash on the back

Dimensions13 cm × 9.4 cm (5.1 in × 3.7 in)

Quick facts Artist, Year ...

Study for the Madonna of the Cat
Studio per la madonna del gatto (Italian)
Recto (left), Verso (right)
Artist	Leonardo da Vinci
Year	c. 1478–1481
Medium	pen and brown ink, on a preparatory drawing in stylus, with a brown wash on the back
Dimensions	13 cm × 9.4 cm (5.1 in × 3.7 in)
Location	British Museum, London
Accession	1856,0621.1

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