Da Vinci exhibition breaks all records

PRETORIA Art Museum's international exhibition on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci titled Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist, has broken its attendance records with some 25 000 people through the doors since opening.

More than 2-million people worldwide have already seen the exhibition.

Response to the exhibition has been overwhelmingly favourable, with the public commenting on how the exhibition has brought da Vinci to life through informative guides and a comprehensive display of his life's work.

Says the Pretoria Art Museum's Suzelle Botha: "People do not understand why we use the term 'attributed' to da Vincis and Renaissance works. In the Renaissance, works were not signed and dated as they are today.

"Also, various artists would work together on a piece in a studio environment. There were very few paintings individual artists finished by themselves as the studio was really a school where the best way to learn was to participate in the real thing.

"The Bust of Christ, which is on display in this exhibition, is a wonderful example of this. Da Vinci studied sculpture under Verrocchio in this piece and one can see the shoulders belong to Verrocchio but the face is entirely da Vinci's.

"The Monna Vanna, also on display, shows da Vinci's works were already being reinterpreted in his own lifetime. Da Vinci worked on this piece with one of his favourite pupils, Salai.

"But the really precious pieces are da Vinci's The Phallic Head, The Angel in Flesh and Wax Horse. World experts including world-famous daVinci scholar Carlo Pedretti attribute these as da Vinci's. This exhibition is exceptional, considering that there are only a dozen remaining artworks by da Vinci in the world."

The reason the Mona Lisa became so famous is it was stolen in 1911 from the Louvre and the Gothenburg Mona Lisa, also on show in the exhibition, is the only copy that has ever hung in the Louvre in place of the original. While there is no official museum record of the painting, the Gothenburg Mona Lisa has the Louvre imprint stamped into the painting's inner frame.

Original works by da Vinci's contemporary and youthful rival Raphael include The Betrothal of St Catherine to the Infant Jesus, painted at the age of 16, and an unfinished painting The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist asleep. Unfortunately another Raphael original expected to be on display was damaged before it reached South Africa.

There are two originals by da Vinci's student Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli which clearly show the master's influence on the pupil. Another painting of note is Ambrosius Benson's copy of da Vinci's The Madonna of the Yarnwinder. While records document the painting' existence the original da Vinci - which was one of his most popular works - has been lost. In addition, a further 13 original Renaissance etchings and drawings are on display.

The interest in the exhibition is reflected by even international tourist groups visiting the museum, while bookings for morning guided school tours are filled up to July.

The message to the public is: come and see this exhibition for yourself, but avoid disappointment by booking tours ahead, preferably for afternoons, and do remember that the venue is closed on Mondays as well as on June 2.

DaimlerChrysler and the International Watch Company are the international sponsors responsible for bringing the exhibition to this country. The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and Billiton Development Trust have enabled the museum to put an educational programme in place for schools. - DDC