Leonardo da Vinci drawings to go on display at Ulster Museum

Some of the greatest drawings by artist Leonardo da Vinci will go on display in the Ulster Museum next year as part of a UK-wide initiative.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Feb 2018, 15:02 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2018, 15:08 BST
The head of St Anne, c1510-15, was made in preparation for da Vinci's The Virgin and Child with St AnneThe head of St Anne, c1510-15, was made in preparation for da Vinci's The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The head of St Anne, c1510-15, was made in preparation for da Vinci's The Virgin and Child with St Anne

The exhibition, entitled Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing, promises to provide an unparalleled insight into the workings of the Renaissance master’s mind.

Over 140 of da Vinci’s drawings will go on display in 12 simultaneous exhibitions across the UK, as part of a nationwide event to mark 500 years since his death.

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The Ulster Museum’s exhibition will include two of da Vinci’s most famous works.

The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489
The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489

The first is The Head of St Anne, made around 1510 in preparation for his famous masterpiece The Virgin and Child with St Anne, which hangs in the Louvre.

The other is an anatomical drawing from 1489: ‘The Skull Sectioned’.

The exhibition will include examples of all the drawing materials employed by the artist, including pen and ink, red and black chalks, watercolour and metalpoint.

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In 2012, the Ulster Museum hosted Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci: A Diamond Jubilee Exhibition from the Royal Collection, which proved to be one of the museum’s most successful exhibitions ever.

The exhibition is part of an event marking 500 years since Leonardo Da Vinci's deathThe exhibition is part of an event marking 500 years since Leonardo Da Vinci's death
The exhibition is part of an event marking 500 years since Leonardo Da Vinci's death

And it is expected that next year’s exhibition will draw even bigger numbers.

Taking place from Friday, February 1 until Monday, May 6, 2019, the initiative will give the widest-ever UK audience the opportunity to see the work of this extraordinary artist.

Anne Stewart, senior curator of art, National Museums NI, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Royal Collection Trust and to host this very special exhibition by one of the world’s most celebrated artists next year.

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“The works which will be on display at the Ulster Museum have been carefully selected to reflect the range of Leonardo da Vinci’s interests – painting and sculpture, botany, anatomy, engineering, hydraulics and mapmaking.

The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489
The Skull Sectioned dates from 1489

“Each drawing in the exhibition will offer its own fascinating story and insight into the exceptional talent and mind of Leonardo, and we are sure our visitors will be enthralled by it.”

Martin Clayton, head of prints and drawings, Royal Collection Trust, said: “The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci are a national treasure, both incredibly beautiful and the main source of our knowledge of the artist.

“We hope that as many people as possible across the UK will take this unique opportunity to see these extraordinary works.”

Related topics:Ulster Museum