This new exhibition promises to be a landmark event in Scotland, featuring over 80 drawings by 57 renowned Italian Renaissance artists, including iconic works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael, and others.
Opening in October 2025 at The King’s Gallery at Holyroodhouse, this exhibition marks the first time many of these exceptional drawings—particularly 45 from the Royal Collection—will be displayed in Scotland.
The exhibition emphasizes the vital role of drawing during this revolutionary period, illustrating how artists used sketches not just as preparatory work, but as a fundamental part of their creative process for designing paintings, sculptures, architecture, and decorative arts.
Visitors will be able to explore how drawing served as a window into the minds of some of history’s greatest artists, revealing their ideas, experiments, and visions. They’ll be the opportunity to see a wide variety of works, from religious studies and naturalistic observations to detailed designs for altarpieces, tapestries, and applied arts.
Highlights include a rare 550-year-old drawing of a young man with a sleeping dog, a detailed study of a young man’s head by Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo’s expressive grotesque head. There will also be works that demonstrate the exploration of the natural world, such as Leonardo’s study of a blackberry branch and Titian’s drawing of an ostrich, believed to be drawn from life. The exhibition will also showcase lesser-known artists, offering a comprehensive view of the period’s artistic landscape and emphasizing the significance of drawing across different media and subjects.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will have the chance to engage actively with the art. There will be live drawing sessions with artists-in-residence, many of whom are alumni of Edinburgh College of Art, encouraging visitors to experiment with pencils and paper inspired by the displayed works.
For more information, and to book tickets, visit Drawing the Italian Renaissance.
