Leonardo da Vinci in Turin: a new multimedia space for his drawings

Starting Saturday, March 8, the Royal Museums of Turin will inaugurate a new permanent exhibit dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci (Anchiano, 1452 - Amboise, 1519). Located on the second floor of the Sabauda Gallery, the exhibition section titled Uno spazio per Leonardo / Leonardo per lo spazio offers a multimedia path designed to enhance the extraordinary collection of drawings by the Renaissance master , kept in the Royal Library. These precious sheets, for preservation reasons, cannot be exhibited permanently. Thanks to the new installation, the public will be able to immerse themselves in Leonardo’s artistic and scientific universe through a narrative that combines technology and history. The installation is distinguished by the presence of interactive information apparatus. A touch screen allows visitors to digitally flip through the Codex on the Flight of Birds, offering unprecedented access to one of the artist’s most fascinating manuscripts. At the center of the neo-Baroque hall, decorated with stuccoes, is a casket covered with mirror material, a scenographic element of great visual impact: writings and drawings by Leonardo emerge on the reflected walls, creating an evocative and immersive effect. The project was promoted by the Musei Reali and curated by architect Lorenzo Greppi, with the collaboration of Francesca De Gaudio and Alessia Frosini for set design, Faustino Montin for museotechnics, and Francesca Bellini delle Stelle with Chiara Ronconi for graphics. The installation is located in two rooms on the second floor of the Sabauda Gallery, one of the museum’s busiest areas, thus promoting wide public enjoyment.

The Royal Library of Turin holds thirteen autograph drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, purchased in 1840 by Charles Albert of Savoy, including the well-known Self-Portrait. This collection covers a wide chronological span of the artist’s life, documenting the variety of his interests and his extraordinary ability to represent reality through drawing. The arrival of the Codex on the Flight of Birds in 1893 further enriched the city’s Leonardo heritage. The manuscript analyzes bird flight with a scientific approach, alternating anatomical studies with experiments in mechanics, hydraulics and architecture, in a perfect synthesis of Leonardo’s multidisciplinary approach.

One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibit is the account of the singular space adventure of Leonardo’sSelf-Portrait and the Codex on the Flight of Birds: thanks to an idea by Silvia Rosa-Brusin of TGR Leonardo, accepted by NASA, the two works were digitally reproduced on a microchip and sent aboard the Curiosity Rover. On Nov. 26, 2011, the probe was launched from Cape Canaveral and, on Aug. 5, 2012, touched down on the surface of Mars. A symbolic interplanetary journey that enshrines the universality of Leonardo’s vision and its ability to push the boundaries of time and space. At the center of the mirror box is a multimedia installation entitled Leonardo da Vinci: the Genius’ vision between real and virtual, conceived by the company Mnemosyne and curated by Cristian Casella and Nicola Sganga. The experience allows visitors to explore Leonardo’s thought in depth through a narrative that blends real and digital. In addition, Spazio Leonardo will allow one of the Royal Library’s original drawings, kept in a climate-controlled, armored case inside the casket, to be displayed on a rotating basis.

The inauguration of the installation was accompanied by the restoration of the historical rooms and collections of the Royal Café, carried out on a project by Lorenza Santa with Tiziana Sandri. The event featured the participation of the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory of Turin, which curated the live musical performances, and director Stefania Rosso, who staged a theatrical performance inspired by Leonardo’s life and inventions. The text, taken from Quel gran genio del mio amico (That Great Genius of My Friend ) by Oliviero Corbetta, offered an original look at the visionary talent of the artist, who was able to transcend the limits of human knowledge, leaving a timeless legacy. Simultaneously with the opening of the new exhibition space, the Royal Museums bookshop, designed by Loredana Iacopino Architettura and entrusted to Silvana Editoriale, also reopened. Located next to the ticket office, the store will offer the public a selection of volumes and objects inspired by the museum’s history and collections, expanding the visitor experience.

Leonardo da Vinci in Turin: a new multimedia space for his drawings

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