Ahead of the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death on Thursday 2 May, visitors are encouraged not to miss the display of 12 drawings by the Renaissance master currently on display at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) until Monday 6 May.
Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing has seen over 77,000 visitors since it opened in the city in February. The exhibition is part of a nationwide event by Royal Collection Trust to mark the anniversary with 12 simultaneous exhibitions spanning the UK.
The free display offers an extraordinary insight into Leonardo da Vinci’s mind with 12 drawings never seen in the city before. Visitors have been wowed by the intricacy of the drawings, including an extremely detailed scientific study of the bones, muscles and tendons of the hand. Leonardo practised as a painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, amongst many other disciplines, but drawing unified all areas of his work.
Katie Morton, Exhibitions Curator at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “We have been thrilled by the response to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition here at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. We knew it would be popular and as expected it has proven to be a big hit with our visitors.
“There are only a few days left to see these stunning drawings up close, so we encourage visitors not to miss the display as it enters its last days in Birmingham.”
The BMAG display shows how Leonardo da Vinci used drawing to explore his ideas and includes a study for St James in the Last Supper, a study of trees and the light falling on leaves, the head of an old bearded man and a storm overwhelming a landscape. Together they give an insight into the range of interests that Leonardo pursued throughout his lifetime.
The series of 12 simultaneous exhibitions across the UK is supported by Constantine and the Birmingham exhibition is sponsored by Coutts Bank.
Following the exhibitions at Royal Collection Trust’s partner venues, on 24th May 2019 the drawings will be brought together to form part of an exhibition of over 200 sheets at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, the largest exhibition of Leonardo’s work in over 65 years. A selection of 80 drawings will then travel in November 2019 to The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, the largest group of Leonardo’s works ever shown in Scotland.
A special exhibition catalogue has been produced by Royal Collection Trust to celebrate Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing and a hardback version is available for purchase in the museum gift shop and online, priced at £24.95.
For more information on Birmingham’s exhibition visit: birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/leonardo-da-vinci-a-life-in-drawing.
Information about the exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace is available here: rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/leonardo-da-vinci-a-life-in-drawing/the-queens-gallery-buckingham.
