Plaster model made between 1882 and 1887 by Cesare Fantacchiotti, depicting the idealized portrait of Leonardo da Vinci in half-length. This is the preparatory work for the marble relief in the portrait gallery of artists on the cymatium of the Cathedral facade. The features of the genius from Vinci, with the long beard of a wise man, the painter's cap, the roll of papers and the compass, are based on the stereotypes formulated in the 19th century, starting from the 1566 portrait from the so-called Jovian collection.

The portrait is a part of the cymatium series, along with those of Florentine artists and others who worked in the Florentine context and who, through religious inspiration, created grandiose works of sacred art in literature, music, architecture and figurative arts. The series is part of the façade iconographic program, developed by Emilio de Fabris, the architect responsible for the creation of the new architectural front, together with the philosopher Augusto Conti. The program is centered on the theme of Christ and Mary and aims to communicate "the greatness of Christianity in itself, and its harmonies with civilization, especially for the gentle inspirations that derive from Christian worship to the Mother of the Redeemer" and among these "Useful Arts, Sciences, Fine Arts".  Conti clarified the inclusion of the portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (who collaborated only tangentially with the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore) as a "universal genius", for his experimental method, as a writer of science and art, and as a painter.