Imagine a robot dressed in a suit of armor and rigged so that it would salute only a king.
Imagine this robot was created 500 years ago.
This robot, rigged to salute King Francois I of France when he walked by, was an invention of Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo was able to perfect his ingenious design of the robot through his studies of anatomy, which involved the dissection of corpses.
Leonardo, who died in 1519, is one of the greatest geniuses in history. When the Western world was emerging from the Dark Ages, Leonardo designed not only robots, but flying machines, modern machinery elements, submarines and underwater breathing gear. He also laid the groundwork for the artificial heart valve.
In his spare time, literally when he was not inventing something, he painted.
“Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius” opens Sunday at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. This international exhibit features more than 50 full-scale working models of Leonardo’s inventions and machines.
And it just seems appropriate for this exhibit to land in Seattle, once known as Jet City.
“Leonardo was fascinated with flight,” said Chris Mailander, director of exhibits at the Museum of Flight. “He studied birds and made sketches of them in flight. This interest led him to design a variety of flying machines including ornithopters, gliding machines, and a helicopter – nearly 400 years before it was first built.
“To help the flying machines, he designed an inclinometer and the principles of the device are used in modern aviation today. He truly was a pioneer of flight centuries before aircraft were invented.”
Mailander called the exhibit “entertaining, eclectic and awe-inspiring.” His personal favorite models are Leonardo’s automobile, the air screw and the helicopter.
And one of the best parts of the exhibit? Being able to touch stuff.
“And to interact physically with some of them,” Mailander said.
This makes the exhibit kid-friendly, Mailander said.
“Leonardo’s life and his extraordinary achievements in science, math, engineering, painting, sculpture, art history, architecture, natural science and anatomy serve as a classic example of how an unbridled imagination and curiosity can change the world,” Mailander said. “The mission of the museum is to inspire young people to pursue a lifelong interest in math, science, technology and the humanities. Who better to spark a renaissance of learning in today’s youth than the poster child of the original Renaissance.”
In addition to the models, the exhibit showcases full-sized replicas of more than 20 of Leonardo’s paintings – the first time his paintings have all been collected in one exhibition.
Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing of a robot (below), and a robot executed from the drawing (right).
Da Vinci’s air screw, drawing (left) and application (below).
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
