- Title: USA: Da Vinci's historic Codex on the Flight of Birds goes on display
- Date: 12th September 2013
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 12, 2013) (REUTERS) MODEL OF DA VINCI'S ORNITHOPTER FLYING MACHINE (CREATED FROM A DRAWING IN ONE OF DA VINCI'S MANUSCRIPTS)
- Embargoed: 27th September 2013 13:00
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- Location: Usa
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- Country: USA
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA9KT4ARS1CRQR2RX703BA236O8
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- Story Text: Leonadro Da Vinci's Codex on the Flight of Birds, one of the world's most famous and historic notebooks, will go on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on Friday (September 13) for a 40 day showing.
The 18-page transcript is a collection of notes and sketches showing da Vinci's interpretation of principles of mechanical flight observed through bird behavior.
Da Vinci created this notebook between 1505 and 1506 while he was also working on the "Mona Lisa."
The Codex is a fragile 8-inch by 6-inch (21 by 5 centimeter) document on loan from the Biblioteca Reale in Turin Italy. While on loan to the Smithsonian, the document is displayed in a guarded, climate controlled case.
Da Vinci was fascinated with flight and drew on objects from nature for inspiration. He sketched the ornithopter -- a flapping winged flying machine, but moved to sketching birds in flight, where his more advanced theories were documented.
Claudio Bisogniero, the Italian Ambassador to the United States said da Vinci was a visionary.
"Indeed we are proud to share this incredible legacy that he has left behind him 500 years ago and to share it with the United States," he said.
Peter Jakab, the Chief Curator of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum told Reuters the Smithsonian is honored to have da Vinci's Codex on the Flight of Birds on loan.
"To have an original Da Vinci item here at the Smithsonian is an extraordinary opportunity, and particularly special to have this particular codex, which is about flight of course, in the same space as the original Wright Flyer."
Primarily known as a sculptor and painter of the "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper," da Vinci had extraordinary skills in architecture, music, mathematics engineering, poetry as as well as anatomy and botany.
Da Vinci died in France in 1519 at the age of 67.
The exhibit's travel to Washington is part of "2013: the Year of Italian Culture in the United States," which features more than 300 cultural events in more than 50 U.S. cities. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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