An exhibition of ten of the finest drawings by
>> Leonardo da Vinci * 1452 Anchiano † 1519 Amboise
on loan from the Royal Collection, will go on display in the National Gallery of Ireland (04.05.2016 – 17.07.2016) Dublin is the only Irish venue for this touring exhibition organised by Royal Collection Trust.
These drawings by Leonardo have been selected to show the extraordinary scope of the artist’s interests, from painting and sculpture to engineering, zoology, botany, mapmaking and anatomy. His skilful use of different media – pen and ink, red and black chalks, watercolour and metalpoint – is well represented.
Through drawing, Leonardo attempted to record and understand the world around him. He maintained that an image transmitted knowledge more accurately and concisely than any words. Nonetheless, many of his drawings are extensively annotated, including the sheet of Studies for casting the equestrian monument to Francesco Sforza (c.1492-4), and the double-sided page from a notebook of anatomical studies, The heart compared to a seedand The vessels of the liver, spleen and kidneys (c.1508).
Leonardo was left-handed and throughout his life he wrote in perfect mirror-image, from right to left. Rather than an attempt to keep his investigations secret, as has been claimed, this was probably a childhood trick that he never abandoned.
The National Gallery of Ireland is one of 4 venues across the UK and Ireland to receive this wonderful exhibition of ten drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection.
(Text: National Gallery of Ireland)