Leonardo da Vinci has long been recognised as one of the great artists of the Renaissance, but he was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy.  He intended to publish his ground-breaking work in a treatise on anatomy, and had he done so his discoveries would have transformed European knowledge of the subject. But on Leonardo’s death in 1519 the drawings remained a mass of undigested material among his private papers and their significance was effectively lost to the world for almost 400 years. This series of events will explore Leonardo’s fascination with anatomical study, and the long and rich relationship between anatomy, medicine and art.

This series of events has been devised in collaboration with the Royal Collection to accompany the exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist.

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  The Art of Anatomy

  Thursday 28 June, 19.00 - 20.30. To be an artist during the Renaissance was, for many, to be an anatomist. Is this still true today? And do Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings have any relevance to contemporary medical practice?

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  Martin Clayton in conversation

  Thursday 5 July, 19.00 - 20.00. Leonardo da Vinci is one of the great artists of the Renaissance, but he was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy. Join Martin Clayton, curator of 'Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist' at the Royal Collection, in conversation with Alice Roberts, anatomist, author and broadcaster, about the archetypal Renaissance man and his fascination with the human body.

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  Anatomy Through Movement

  Thursday 12, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July. Taking Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings as inspiration, this workshop – led by award-winning theatre company the Clod Ensemble – encourages participants to engage with their own anatomy through a series of gentle movement exercises

 

Images supplied by Royal Collection Trust / © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2012