A comprehensive look at life and work of the original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci

ST. LOUIS – December 12, 2019 – The Saint Louis Science Center will open Da Vinci The Exhibition on Jan.11, 2020. The 7,000 square-foot special exhibition follows the Renaissance master, Leonardo da Vinci, on a journey of innovation, creativity, science, and wonder.

Developed by Aurea Exhibitions and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc., Da Vinci The Exhibition is a hands-on examination of da Vinci’s life, research, and intellectual mind that went well beyond his art. Featuring more than 60 fully built, life-size replicas of inventions, more than 20 recreations of his major paintings and fine art studies and dozens of stunning concept displays, guests will learn the complex beginnings and lifetime achievements of da Vinci through his discoveries in engineering, flight, hydraulics, art, music, light and more.

Throughout the exhibition’s themed galleries and hands-on interactives, guests will discover the breadth and scope of da Vinci’s incredibly advanced understanding of science, mathematics, and nature, as well as the relationship between the three. The artist’s intricate designs and extraordinary early concepts are spotlighted, including his design for the helicopter, tank, SCUBA, crane, clock, submarine and his plan for a modern city. Additionally, various multimedia experiences and documentary presentations throughout the space will provide a multitude of supplementary information on da Vinci’s discoveries and creative process.

“The Science Center is looking forward to bringing this exhibition to our guests, highlighting a man who was a genius in so many disciplines withinSTEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics),” said Todd Bastean, president and CEO of the Science Center. “Through this exhibition, guests will see innovations from more than 500 years ago that foreshadowed many modern-day technologies.”

Each invention featured within Da Vinci The Exhibition was handcrafted utilizing a modern translation of da Vinci’s unique mirrored writing style(writing from the right side of the page and moving to the left)in an ancient Florentine dialect. Trained artisans used these translations to construct full-scale models and bring the master’s two-dimensional plans to life.

In addition to da Vinci’s role as an inventor, the exhibition displays to-scale recreations of da Vinci’s most renowned paintings, including some controversial works traditionally attributed to him but not yet authenticated. Guests will have the opportunity to thoroughly study the artistic mastery behind such works as “Mona Lisa,” “The Last Supper,” “Portrait of a Young Man,” “Virgin of the Rocks,” “St. John the Baptist” and more through replicas of the pieces.

Throughout his lifelong devotion to the sciences and fascination with nature, da Vinci also extensively explored the world of anatomy. Da Vinci The Exhibition’s in-depth and enlightening explanations of his famous studies on subjects such as the golden ratio and “Vitruvian Man” are complemented by enlarged examples of the artist’s sketches and notes made during his controversial research on the human body.

CEO of Imagine Exhibitions Tom Zaller shared, “Da Vinci was an absolutely incredible man—his art, inventions, and research paved the way for life as we know it today. It is Imagine Exhibitions’ pleasure to present this immersive and interactive exhibition at the Science Center as a way for guests to explore the immeasurable ways that one man has influenced our current understanding of anatomy, math, nature, art, and machines.”

Da Vinci The Exhibition is open daily to the public from9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.for a limited time. The exhibition closes on April 19. Tickets are available beginning Dec. 16, 2019, on slsc.org, by calling 314.289.4424 or by visiting one of the Science Center’s box offices.

Saint Louis Science Center
The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. Named a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate in 2016, the Saint Louis Science Center features more than 700 interactive exhibits, as well as a five-story OMNIMAX® Theater, Boeing Hall and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org.

Imagine Exhibitions
Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit www.ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.

For more information, contact:
Mindy Peirce
Email: email