Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) A study of a woman's hands, c.1490. Image courtesy: The Royal Collection.
Leeds City Art Gallery has been selected as one of four locations to exhibit ten drawings from the Royal Collection by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The exhibition will travel to just four locations across the country in 2006 to mark the Queen’s 80th birthday. The Leeds part of the exhibition will take place between September 7 2006 and November 19 2006. The other shows will take place in Exeter, Aberdeen and Cardiff.
Councillor John Procter, executive member for leisure at Leeds City Council, said: “I am delighted that Leeds has been chosen as one of our venues to host such wonderful treasures from the Royal Collection.”
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) Studies of gun-barrels and mortars, c.1485. Image courtesy: The Royal Collection.
He added: “The exhibition will provide an opportunity for the people of Leeds and beyond to view a range of beautiful drawings from one of the world’s greatest artists.”
The drawings on loan to Leeds City Art Gallery include studies for painting, sculpture and architecture; studies of anatomy and botany; as well as designs for weaponry and large-scale engineering projects.
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) A scheme for a canal to bypass the Arno, c.1503. Image courtesy: The Royal Collection.
Among the drawings are studies of gun barrels and mortars (c.1485), a scheme for a canal to bypass the Arno (c.1503) and studies of the anatomy of the shoulder and foot (c.1503).
They have been in the Royal Collection since the 17th century and were probably acquired during the reign of Charles II (1660-1685).
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) Studies of the anatomy of the shoulder and the foot, c.1510-11. Image courtesy: The Royal Collection.
Because of their sensitivity to light the drawings are never on permanent display – instead they are shown in rotation in a continuously changing display at Windsor Castle and through loans to other museums and galleries worldwide.
The other exhibitions will take place at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery in Exeter from March 18 2006 until June 3, Aberdeen Art Gallery between June 14 and August 28, and the Cardiff National Museum & Gallery from 23 March – 3 June 2007.
