Leonardo at the Accademia Galleries.
The image of this “Italian Embassador” is found on euros coined in Italy. “Leonardo’s Man” has constituted part of the treasures of the Accademia Galleries, Venice, since 1822. From its dark chamber, in the shadows of the design cabinet, it had exited only five other times in half a century: 1966, 1980, 1992, 1999, 2002, and always for very brief times. Paper and ink suffer from light, from changes in temperature and humidity.
In art history, this design is known as the Vitruvian Man, because Leonardo da Vinci based it on the Treatise of Architecture by the Roman Vitruvius. The proportions between the parts of a building respond to the same laws of beauty and harmony which apply to the human body. Certainly, it has become a manifesto of the Renaissance, of its proud confidence in human reason, pivot-point and conscience of the universe.
«Leonardo. The Vitruvian Man between art and science»
Until 10 January 2010 Accademia Galleries
Info www.leonardo.uomovitruviano.it
Source: www.venezianews.it