The artwork titled “Natural Disaster” is attributed to the celebrated High Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, estimated to have been created circa 1517 in Paris, France. This sketch and study, rendered on paper with chalk and ink, measures 16.2 by 20.3 centimeters. The piece reflects the heightened interest in the natural world characteristic of the period and serves as a testament to da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity about the forces of nature.

The artwork is a dynamic composition that vividly captures the tumultuous energy of a natural disaster, perhaps a storm or deluge. Swirling patterns dominate the scene, suggesting the rapid movement of wind and water, while fragmented structures amidst the chaos imply the destructive power at play. Da Vinci’s use of line is both precise and expressive, creating a sense of intensity and motion that conveys the overwhelming experience of witnessing such an event. The overlapping curls and spirals generate a visceral sense of the natural disaster’s power, demonstrating da Vinci’s remarkable ability to translate complex phenomena onto a flat surface with a sense of depth and realism.