On Sunday 3 February, I had the absolute pleasure of wandering down to the Walker Art Gallery to see ‘Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life In Drawing”, alongside what seemed to be half of Liverpool. I was like a child at Christmas, running down Renshaw Street towards the gallery after seeing a short video on the Walker Art Gallery website explaining the works available to see in the various venues.
I’ve always been mesmerised by his paintings and drawings, but to see some of his primary sketches was so different. It was clear immediately that he had a certain infatuation for horses and their form, as nearly all the images (large or small) had at least 1 quick sketch of a horses head or torso.
One particular favourite of mine was ‘Rearing of a Horse and Study of Horse, Lion and Human Heads’. I was so engrossed with the rearing horse’s exquisite detail that I completely glazed over the profile of man and lion, until I read the description and title. And then I was just as amazed at how, although both these features were lightly drawn and simplistic it was clear who and what they are.
Da Vinci, L. 1503. Rearing of a Horse and Study of Horse, Lion and Human Heads. [Pen and ink]. Florence, Italy.
Another aspect that is enough to blow anyone away is his attempts and successes to understand human anatomy, and his many notes to go alongside it; the exhibition had ensured to translate and decipher all of his near illegible notes.
Da Vinci, L. 1506-8. Anotomical Studies of the Neck and Shoulder. [Pen and ink]. Florence, Italy.
Though Da Vinci’s work is over 500 years old, the curation of the exhibition was quite modern and contemporary with freestanding frames and bold coloured timelines and wall features. It was different to how I had imagined but the direction and connecting features fitted really well alongside his works, and I think I need to head back again soon.
HXLLISON ART HISTORY 