Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest minds and talents of all time. He was an artist and inventor who created the most incredible works of beauty, designed the most frightening war machines intended for death and destruction, and invented flying machines 400 years before man took to the skies. Now, for the first time ever, two original folios of the authentic, 500-year-old Codex Atlanticus*, over three dozen reconstructions of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary machines, as well as a more modern take on da Vinci’s work including five original Warhol paintings featuring da Vinci’s Last Supperhave been brought together for a one-of-a-kind special exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum’s The World of da Vinci exhibition.
“Over the past few years, every time we’ve asked our visitors what special exhibit they would most like us to host, an exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci ranked number one by a landslide,” said John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “We are thrilled to say that not only did we answer their requests, but we did so by putting together an exhilarating and educational exhibition which has never been seen before.”
Running through September 8, 2019, The World of da Vinci showcases the versatility and creative power of da Vinci - a supreme genius and one of the greatest minds of all time. His drawings cover mechanics, engineering, architecture, mathematics, geometry, astronomy, botany, zoology, anatomy, military and physics, and each of these can be seen in the reconstructions of his machines on display at the Reagan Library. Life-size reproductions includehis Great Kite, Triple Machine Gun and Mechanical Lion. In addition, the Reagan Library will also host the worldwide premiere of da Vinci’s Great Continuous Organ, which is one of his most fascinating and functional inventions!
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Two rare and authentic folios, known as 710 and 897,* from the Codex Atlanticus, da Vinci’s collection of 402 folios containing 1,750 drawings completed between 1478 and 1519.
- Over three-dozen reconstructions of Leonardo da Vinci’s fantastic machines, broken out by genre, including a “Flying Machine Area,” a “War Machines Area,” an “Engineering Area,” a “Musical Instrument Area,” and more. Over a dozen of these reconstructions are built life-size.
- 5 original Andy Warhol paintings of da Vinci’s Last Supper, completed just prior to Warhol’s death in 1987 (courtesy of J. Carter Tutwiler)
- An Interactive Workshop for kids and adults of all ages; a hands-on experience to help visitors learn who da Vinci was and what he did during his life
*Each of the two folios will be on display for 3 of the 4-month exhibit run.
This not-to-be-missed exhibition is ideal for the entire family. For more information and to pre-purchase tickets, please visit www.reaganlibrary.com/davinci.
The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley, California. Public hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Museum is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. For Museum Admission fees, please visit www.reaganlibrary.com. As large crowds are expected to view the exhibition, pre-purchased timed-entry tickets are recommended by visiting www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets. For more information, call (800) 410.8354 or visit www.reaganlibrary.com/davinci.
About The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with continuing his legacy and sharing his principles - individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, and the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s mission in Washington, D.C. The Reagan Library houses 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It now also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and his first lady. www.reaganfoundation.org
About Leonardo3:
Leonardo3 (Milan, Italy) is an innovative museum and research center whose mission is to study and interpret cultural heritage and make it available to the public using avant-garde technologies and methods developed by the center itself. In particular, Leonardo3 makes extensive use of three-dimensional images and animations, which is where the “3” comes from. For over 15 years, Leonardo3 has been reconstructing da Vinci’s creations directly from his manuscripts and has developed skills that allow them to give light to projects never before seen.
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