Nature as Da Vinci's muse
Exhibition reveals how Renaissance master drew inspiration from plants, animals, geology and anatomy, Wang Qian reports.
Spanning approximately 1,000 square meters across two temporary exhibition halls, the exhibition is structured into four thematic units comprising eight chapters. It traces how Da Vinci drew profound inspiration from the natural world — studying plants, animals, geology and anatomy — to fuel his revolutionary creations.
Curated by Professor Mario Taddei, founder of the Leonardo da Vinci Academy with more than 20 years of expertise, the exhibition features 23 physical reconstructions based on Da Vinci's designs.
"I think that for the first time with this exhibition, we want to say something extraordinary, something completely new about Da Vinci. He observed nature and researched history. Combining the two, he invented new things," Taddei says, adding that Da Vinci has contributions to a wide range of fields, not only the creation of Mona Lisa.
He adds that the exhibition invites visitors to view the world through Da Vinci's perspective, enter his world, appreciate the beauty of the combination of natural science with humanities and arts, and feel the charm of cross-cultural blend.
