Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Genius

Fascinating exhibition at the Science Museum looking at the inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci.

The exhibition was based on models made for an exhibition in 1952 in Milan which were shown against reproductions of paintings and sketches. There were really good interactive displays to help you understand the science of the  machines which would be great to catch children’s imaginations. I liked the labels on the objects which classed them as innovative, a development of a previous idea or an idea which wouldn’t have worked in practice.

I loved the section on the war machines and designs for fortifications particularly as many of these were designed for Cesare Borgia and I’d just finished a book about him. Also the section on the work he did to improve manufacturing for the Sforza’s in Milan.

Most visually dramatic was the section on how he imagined ways in which man might fly. It described how his ideas developed as he realised that human muscle power would be insufficient to lift a machine and his ideas to turned to gliding.  It showed his different approaches to invention both observing the world and applying what he learn but also imagining solutions to problems. 

Closes on 4 September 2016.

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