The Genius of Leonardo

Only through September 7, 2008

Making its United States debut at the Witte Museum, this exhibit takes visitors into the magical world of Leonardo da Vinci's mastermind machines, built from his original drawings.

The exhibition is a spectacle in which knowledge and entertainment are entwined. Like a theatrical performance, the materials artfully take on a life of their own. Sound, light and shade mingle, all evoking Da Vinci's past and our present. Our aim is to reveal the pulse of power, genius, and instinct; and the soul's secret perceptions.

From the moment of entry to departure, each visitor will carve a line through space as if in a rite, an abstract motion that leads to Da Vinci and the complex edifice of his thought. As visitors, we may take part interactively in order to grasp and enjoy the source of the inventor's inspiration. Here, the mind is activated, and our thoughts travel along with the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Create your own "bird" flight simulator to bring and test in Leonardo's Workshop at the Witte:
Click here for a design template.

Each visit to The Genius of Leonardo can be unique. Cut out, decorate and bring your own bird for experimenting. You can also try your skills at drawing, building and inventing.

The exhibit is divided into four elemental sections: Fire, Water, Earth and Air, plus additional mechanisms designed by Da Vinci to meet particular needs.

1. Fire
Constructions for machine warfare, such as the canon, machine gun and - one of the exhibition's greatest surprises - the armoured vehicle, a moving battle tank made of wood which one can visit inside.

2. Water
Machines that employ the force of water to relay energy, such as the worm screw or Archimedes' screw; equipment Da Vinci devised for man to walk on water; and the webbed glove, which matches today's flipper and was meant to accelerate swimming.

3. Earth
In addition to the crane, printing press and oil press, Da Vinci also devised theatrical machines. The most impressive exhibit is definitely the robot, which he invented centuries before the technology revolution.

4. Air
Models of flying machines that Da Vinci designed centuries before man conquered the skies. Spectacular are a contrivance with mechanical wings (ornithopter) to allow man to fly and a precursor of today's hang glider, along with the parachute and a flying ornithopter bicycle.

Mechanisms
Simple and inventive machines that Da Vinci devised to solve practical, everyday problems, such as the easiest way to lift a heavy load. Employing the laws of nature, many of which he knew empirically before they were defined by science, Da Vinci designed systems to convert motion into energy, gears, lifting systems, and systems to transmit motion through ball bearings, which even today are used in the automobile.

You can build a Leonardo Bridge. Click here.

Work on this and other Leonardo da Vinci inventions in Leonardo's Workshop

The Genius of Leonardo is generously supported by The Boeing Company, The Wachovia Foundation, the Joan and Herb Kelleher Charitable Foundation, a grant from the Dan and Gloria Oppenheimer Fund and Grace W. Baskin Charitable Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, the Holt Atherton Education Fund, Citibank, Humanities Texas, and the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.

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