Leonardo da Vinci

This drawing of Leonardo da Vinci, probably from around 1490, is sometimes touted as a self portrait, but this is unlikely. The only picture widely, though not universally, thought to be a self portrait is one in red chalk of Leonardo later in life.


Original drawing.

Karel Hynek Mácha

When I saw this drawing of the Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha, I was struck by how much it looked like a photograph, apart from the pencil lines. The artist, Jan Vilímek, wasn't even born until nearly a quarter of a century after Mácha died, so how accurate it is I don't know. Even so, it's a superb and natural looking portrait. Doubtless some purists will object to my reworking of this drawing, but I think it only emphasises how good the original was, and the original still exists, so nothing is lost.



Original drawing.