National Geographic Events

Exhibits

Da Vinci-The Genius

  • Date
    June 18, 2010 – September 12, 2010
  • Time 9am-5pm daily
  • Location Washington, D.C.
  • Price Free

Past Event

Photo: A sketch and model of the aerial screw.
A sketch and model of the aerial screw.

Photo courtesy Grande Exhibitions

Photo: Reproduction of the Mona Lisa
Photo courtesy Grande Exhibitions

Featuring an array of full-scale machine inventions, reproductions of his famous Renaissance paintings, and detailed anatomical sketches, Da Vinci–The Genius demonstrates the full scope of Leonardo da Vinci’s remarkable innovations as an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician, and architect.

Most of what is known about Leonardo da Vinci’s scientific ideas and inventions comes from his codices or notebooks. The intact pages contain notes and sketches about geometry, fauna and flora, engineering, flight, anatomy, mathematics, physics, and philosophy. A cadre of Italian artisans reproduced many of Leonardo’s machine inventions, using techniques and materials available in 15th-century Italy. Among the machines on display are: glider, parachute, precursor to the modern helicopter, forerunner of the modern military tank, automobile, submarine, and interactive ball bearing and gear systems.

The Secrets of Mona Lisa section showcases the work of French scientific engineer Pascal Cotte. He took photographs of the famous painting using a 240-megapixel, multispectral imaging camera of his own invention. The camera’s patented infrared technology and intense illumination scanned the painting, virtually peeling away layers of varnish to reveal original paint colors, distinguish between layers of over-painting, and reveal 25 secrets unknown to the art world until Pascal reported his findings.

Weekly Film Screening
Through the conclusion of the exhibition, “Leonardo da Vinci: The Man Who Wanted to Know Everything” will be shown for free in the Grosvenor Auditorium on the days listed below.
Saturdays & Sundays @ 11am & 1pm
Wednesday @ Noon

Family Drop-In Programs
Free
Saturdays @ 3pm: July 10, August 7
Wednesdays @ 2pm: July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25
Investigate the principles of flight as you create your own whirligig to take home.

Learn more about Da Vinci–The Genius.

The exhibition has been made available by Grande Exhibitions, Fondazione Anthropos of Italy, and French engineer Pascal Cotte.


The Madison, a Loews Hotel is the Official Hotel Partner of the National Geographic Museum.

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