Profile of a warrior in helmet

Leonardo da Vinci executed this silverpoint drawing around 1472 while studying under Andrea Verrocchio in Florence. The work depicts a warrior in profile wearing an elaborate winged helmet adorned with flowers and acanthus leaves. A lion decorates the breastplate. The silverpoint technique produces thin, delicate lines that have turned grey over time.

Long thought to portray Hannibal, scholars now believe it copies a lost metal relief by Verrocchio depicting Darius the Great. The drawing showcases Leonardo's early mastery of detail, from the curling hair to the modeled face. Now at the British Museum in London, it measures 28.5 by 20.7 centimeters.