A design for a dragon costume by Leonardo da Vinci - c.1517-18 - 18.8 x 27.0 cm Royal Collection Trust A design for a dragon costume by Leonardo da Vinci - c.1517-18 - 18.8 x 27.0 cm Royal Collection Trust

A design for a dragon costume

black chalk, pen and ink • 18.8 x 27.0 cm
  • Leonardo da Vinci - 15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519 Leonardo da Vinci c.1517-18

Today we have for you ... a dragon costume designed by Leonardo da Vinci! It has a hairy body, a tail, short horns, an open mouth and, apparently, a hairy, clawed arm coming out of the back of its neck. A bit weird but it looks legit, doesn't it?

As a court artist in France, Leonardo designed exotic costumes for the many entertainments staged for King Francis I. This drawing appears to be a study for a dragon costume to house two men, in the manner of a pantomime horse. A clawed arm sketched in black chalk can be seen emerging from the side of the head, at the natural height of a man who supplies the front legs of the beast, and who supports the oversized head on his shoulders, as in a Chinese festival dragon.

P.S. Here are 11 things you might not know about Leonardo Da Vinci and "here be" Medieval dragons!  : D