Renaissance Genius within reach

So far, 3 million visitors have seen the exhibition «Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist». The
world tour of the exhibition will enter into its final stage between the 2nd September 2000 and the 7th
January 2001 at the Swiss National Museum, Zurich. Here not only Leonado da Vinci, the artist, can be
discovered, but also Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance genius, who had many other talents besides. Thanks
to the support of a number of innovative, but also tradition-aware companies, it has been possible to stage
a complex and comprehensive exhibition with pictures, technical constructions and multi-media
presentations.
The exhibition on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci has been shown in many different places all over
the world since 1994. The «finale» of this extremely successful and busy exhibition will take place at the
Swiss National Museum over a period of four months.

Since the beginning of the tour almost 3 million visitors have got to know the many different facets of the
universal genius Leonardo da Vinci. The painter, sculptor, artist, master builder, natural scientist da Vinci
was one of the outstanding figures of his epoch, that of the Renaissance. This cultural movement which
marked the transition from Middle Ages to modern times brought about enormous changes in the natural
and technical sciences and lead to the European modern age. The flourishing of art and science during the
Renaissance brought about a radical change in the existing view of the world. In this context, Leonardo da
Vinci made a considerable contribution to the changes of his time.

Around 500 years later this exhibition focuses on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. The 250 objects
on exhibition show far more than the painter made world-famous by the «Mona Lisa» painting or the
«Last Supper» wall mural. Many paintings and sculptures as well as drawings and copies show also da Vinci
as a meticulous observer, a talented scientist and an innovative thinker.

Hands-on mobile models and technical constructions enable visitors to have a truly first-hand experience
and understanding of Leonardo da Vinci's ideas. Twenty interactive multimedia stations have been set up
with 8000 pictures which detail interesting facts on the life and work of da Vinci, and give background
information on the Renaissance period in general.

The exhibition «Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist» has been made possible thanks to the
co-operation offered by the Institute for Cultural Exchange, Tübingen (Institut für Kulturaustausch
Tübingen). Permanent partners for the world tour DaimlerChrysler AG, Stuttgart and IWC International
Watch Co., Schaffhausen have also sponsored the exhibition in the Swiss National Museum. To mark their
250 year jubilee Rahn & Bodmer Banquiers, the oldest private bank in Zurich, have agreed to be the main
co-sponsors of the exhibition in Switzerland. All three companies stand for quality, tradition and
innovation, qualities which incorporate the general setting and spirit of the exhibition.