Da Vinci's genius brought to fruition

A model of Leonardo da Vinci's Bicycle (Bicicletta) at the da Vinci Machines exhibition. Picture / Richard Robinson

In the 15th century, inventions such as the bicycle, helicopter and glider existed only in the mind and drawings of Leonardo da Vinci.

An exhibition of 58 models based on the works of the Italian genius opens today at Auckland Museum, nearly 500 years after da Vinci died.

The exhibition, called The Da Vinci Machines, has four themes - mechanical, military, hydraulic, flying machines - with models made of materials from 15th-century Italy: wood, canvas, rope, iron.

"His drawings were so fundamentally correct they can be applied to lots of machines today," says Luigi Rizzo, managing director of company Teknoart, which studied da Vinci's projects and brought them to life.

"The glider, hanging in the museum foyer, he was so close to making it work but he was thought of as crazy. Had he been supported, he would have flown 500 years ago."

Da Vinci's manuscripts show a man who devised futuristic concepts centuries before their time, including a helicopter, a tank and a telescope.

The exhibition includes a large model of da Vinci's tank, with moving parts inside where men provided power to the wheels.

Also included is a mini-robot, a bicycle and a vertical flying machine that influenced the helicopter.

The bicycle is somewhat controversial, and debate remains over whether it is the work of da Vinci or one of his students.

Each model is accompanied by relevant drawings and explanatory texts.

"The interactive models represent the principles of mechanics - the gear box, the chain," Mr Rizzo says.

"It's simple now, but he was the first one to think of moving a chain to connect the motion of one wheel to another.

"Five hundred years ago it was outlandish, but it took another 300 until they actually used it."

Da Vinci's notes were not always easy to follow.

"His drawings give an idea of how these machines can be built, but one needs more than one drawing to finish the machines. They had missing bits, which he did deliberately so as not to be copied," says Mr Rizzo.

"But his ability to analyse natural phenomenon was so deep, and he applied that to the things he needed to do, for example the Mona Lisa, which took 20 years to paint.

"He was very clear-minded. He understood the principles to create the machines man needed at the time. They were so advanced, the people couldn't even think to apply them at the time."

In anticipation of large public interest in the exhibition, the museum will open to 7.30pm on selected Wednesdays.

Entry is $12 for adults, $9 for students and seniors, $6 for members and children.

The exhibition will run until March 5.

Da Vinci Machines

What: 50 models of Leonardo da Vinci's famous machines
Where: Auckland Museum
When: Today until March 5
How much: Adults $12, children $6, family $27, Seniors, students $8.