The Olympics represent the spirit of camraderie, healthy competition, and the performance of the human body,. To show her support and appreciation, the Queen of England has lent her personal collection of anatomical drawings by no other than the master himself, Leonardo da Vinci. His works and drawings of the human body were so precise, they awed the imagination and helped in the advancement of medicine of his era.
According to curator, Martin Clayton, in charge of the private collection, many of grand Italian master’s drawings were ahead of his time, some of which were not surpassed in quality and detail for centuries later.
The collection will include 240 charcoal and ink drawings, most of which were created during the winter of 1510 -1511 when the artist undertook an in-depth study of the human body. These works are now almost 500 years old and have been viewed by millions over the centuries. They have been set onto only 18 sheets of paper, most of which are double-sided.
The exhibit Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechnanics of Man will take place from February 6 to May 2, 2010.