The most complete and comprehensive traveling exhibition ever created on Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, ‘Da Vinci – The Genius,’ makes its U.S. East Coast debut at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore on October 2 and will be on display until January 31, 2010.
‘Da Vinci – The Genius’ demonstrates the scope of Leonardo da Vinci’s genius as an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician and architect. Da Vinci is generally regarded as the archetypical and the most complete Renaissance Man. Over the past decade, a cadre of Italian artisans has been translating an old Florentine dialect and deciphering da Vinci’s shorthand to bring his ideas to life.
In the 10,000 square foot exhibition, visitors will encounter more than 65 of da Vinci’s inventions crafted from his personal notebooks. Among the creations on display are Da Vinci’s visions for the glider, parachute, and precursors to modern helicopters, automobiles, and submarines. Many of the inventions have been crafted by using techniques and materials of 15th-century Italy, with some built to scale.
A design by Leonardo da Vinci for a flying machine, drawn circa 1488, and now held in the Institut de France, Paris
A highlight section of the exhibition is “Secrets of Mona Lisa,” which showcases the work of French engineer Pascal Cotte. His life-long passion for the preservation of the Mona Lisa led Cotte to invent the 240-megapixel multi-spectral imaging camera. The camera uses infrared technology and intense illumination to uncover how the Mona Lisa looked as she was originally painted, including layers of over-painting, restoration and attempts at preservation. It even identifies the individual pigments that da Vinci used.
‘Da Vinci – The Genius’ also includes reproductions and written explanations by Vincian experts and museum curators exploring his most famous Renaissance art, including his paintings Virgin of the Rocks and The Annunciation; amazing anatomical sketches; preparatory drawings of the Anghiari Battle; and three-dimensional interactive presentations of the Last Supper, the Vitruvian Man, and the Sforza Horse sculpture that offer never-before-seen perspectives on these famous works.
Following its appearance at the Maryland Science Center, the exhibition will embark on a multi-year tour of North America. ‘Da Vinci – The Genius’ was developed jointly by the Anthropos Association of Italy and Grande Exhibitions.
The Maryland Science Center is located at 601 Light Street at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. For information and tickets, visit www.marylandsciencecenter.org or www.davincithegenius.com, or call the 24-hour information line at 410-685-5225.
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