Leonardo da Vinci exhibition coming to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
To mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) will be unveiling a display of 12 drawings by the Renaissance master.
This is the first-time visitors can see these 12 works from the Royal Collection on display in Birmingham and offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to view them up close in the city.
The free exhibition offers an extraordinary insight into Leonardo da Vinci’s mind. He practised as a painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, amongst many other disciplines, but drawing unified all areas of his work.
The Birmingham exhibition presents works from across Leonardo’s life. They include scientific studies, 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.
BMAG will bring Leonardo’s techniques alive for visitors through a learning programme which includes guided tours, a talk from Martin Clayton, head of prints and drawings at Royal Collection Trust, and family art activities.
Katie Morton, exhibitions curator at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to see drawings by Leonardo da Vinci up close and get a glimpse into the mind of the archetypal ‘Renaissance Man’.
"Leonardo’s genius is truly visible through these drawings and we are thrilled to be part of this nationwide celebration with Royal Collection Trust.
"We are sure this exhibition will be hugely popular and urge visitors not to miss their chance to be a part of it.”
Martin Clayton, head of prints and drawings, Royal Collection Trust, said: “We are delighted to work with BMAG as one of Royal Collection Trust’s 12 partner venues in the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing nationwide event.
"In 2019, in collaboration with our partners we will be giving the widest-ever audience across the UK the opportunity to see the work of this extraordinary artist.
“The exhibition at the gallery demonstrates the extraordinarily wide range of Leonardo’s work throughout his lifetime and is a thrilling opportunity for audiences to engage directly with one of the greatest minds in history.
"His drawings were central to his work in every field, both his artistic projects and his scientific investigations: they allowed Leonardo to work out his ideas on paper and can be viewed as his private laboratory.”
Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing will be at BMAG from February 1 to May 6.
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