Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery organized Exploring Leonardo Study Day as part of the Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration exhibition.  The day saw four leading experts speak on Leonardo’s strategies for innovation in art, the pitfalls of working with him, da Vinci’s anatomical studies and the work that went into restoring  the famous Leonardo cartoon at the National Gallery following its damage in a shotgun attack in 1987.

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Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery had the honour of being the first stop on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration to showcase the Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.

As you walk into the dedicated room you’re immediately aware you’re in the presence of greatness.  I do not consider myself anything more than an art ‘fan’ but I was able to feel the power of da Vinci from the first drawing I saw ‘Designs for chariots and other weapons’ c 1485 Pen and ink with wash.  While the theme was weapons, you didn’t even notice the topic as your eyes are drawn to the movement of the horses and where they were going in their movements.  Your eyes then slowly move, following the lines to innovative concept weapons da Vinci created.

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