leonardo da vinci : a life in drawing exhibition (review)

As a little birthday gift to myself I visited the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery in London.

Entry to the exhibition was a little steep for my liking at £13.50, considering that earlier this year the works had been exhibited at a number of national museums across England for free. However, for my boy da Vinci, I was willing to pay.

As I waited to go in, I saw a leaflet that said I could get my ticket stamped and come back again as I pleased for the next year as I’d opted to pay for my ticket as a donation (allowing them to collect gift aid). So, really, it was a bargain. As I’m definitely going to come back, and I’ll likely go to the next exhibition George IV : Art and Spectacle.

The exhibition, 500 years on from his death, gathers together 200 of his drawings, and is largest display of his works on display for almost 70 years.

A Life in Drawing was divided into sections, with smaller sub-genres contained in each. This worked well as you were accompanied by an audio guide (or a script in your chosen language. Below is the general organisation, probably not in the right order, and definitely not word perfect. It was a lot to take in, and I had to keep going to whichever area was quietest as it was busy!

• Introduction
• Florence
  • Adoration of the Shepherds and the Magi
• Milan
  • Early artistic drawings
  • Entertainments
  • The Sforza monument
  • The Last Supper
  • Early scientific drawings
  • Engineering and weapons
• Florence, Milan and Rome
  • Landscapes
  • Botanical studies
  • Treatise on Painting/Water Works in Florence
  • Late anatomy
  • Maps and engineering
  • Designs in Milan
  • The Madonna and Child with St Anne
  • Ideal male heads
• France
  • Final equestrian monument
  • Costume studies
  • Deluges

The exhibition was split across four (technically five if you count the little hallway section) rooms. The works were well organised and the thematic groupings were sensible. However, it was almost impossible to follow the audio guide in the order intended which threw me off a little and I would find myself taking a seat and catching up.

I much preferred to explore a set of drawings on my own and then listen to the piece on it, especially as several of the sections included short videos or demonstrations for additional context. It was also great to be able to sit back and view the drawings from a distance and catch things that you missed when you were studying the details.

The guide was mediocre, if you were seeking a larger background on da Vinci or the other works that he was completing whilst drawing you should search elsewhere. This exhibition does not provide a definitive guide to da Vinci, and the additional content that it does provide is minimal. In my opinion, this results in him being presented as an isolated and potentially lonely genius, with only one man to call a friend at the end of his life, and that’s simply not true. Salaì might as well have not existed.

The book that accompanies the exhibition is £14.95, and is a lovely resource. It focuses on dissecting each drawing and providing additional context to it. So, if you’re seeking to focus solely on the drawings it’s perfect, and you may even wish to purchase it prior to your visit so that you can consult it as you make your way around the exhibition.

Overall, I had a fantastic day and I would definitely recommend a visit whilst the exhibition is still on. You have until October 13th. Hopefully the drawings don’t effectively return to deep storage and they find a permanent home somewhere.

I’d also suggest that if you plan to go, you book your tickets in advance as the queue was very much out of the door when I arrived for my 13:30 slot. If you’re prone to feeling a little claustrophobic and want to visit on a weekend, go for the first slot of the day.

mid-week catch up [6]

This week was pretty chill up until yesterday when I had a small breakdown, but it was due so that was fine.

I spent the last Thursday and Friday going through the usual routine of work, home, food and bed. On Friday I almost impulse bought a Switch, however, my enthusiasm was ruined when I realised that Animal Crossing wasn’t going to be released until next year. Upsetting. It’ll probably teach me to check release dates before getting hyped though.

On Saturday I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with myself. It was one of those days where you wake up far too early and have no plans, and you just feel weird. To boost my spirits, I went on a shopping trip and made some superbly dumb purchases. I excused my behaviour by telling myself that it was my birthday weekend and that I could do what I want.

Sunday was my birthday and I turned 22. I’m still a little peeved that nobody played Taylor Swift’s 22 for me. Maybe Matt thought it wasn’t necessary since I got him a Taylor themed cake for his 22^nd. I enjoyed the day though, we had a lazy start and didn’t get up until 11. Matt gave me a gift which was beyond cool; it’s a collection of illustrations for Dante’s The Divine Comedy. I’m sure everyone knows that Dante is my boy, so I very much appreciated it.

In the afternoon I’d booked to visit the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery. I’d already visited a segment of it earlier this year as the drawings were exhibited across the UK in groups of 12. This was the complete collection though and it was stunning. I’ve got a post half drafted so I can have a more in-depth discussion on it. In short though, if you have the change to go, GO!

Going back to work sucked, I wasn’t in the mood at all. The day wasn’t too bad, but I was drained, and in the evening we were seeing State Champs so I needed to gather my last reserves of energy. For once it didn’t take much, I think the sheer excitement of seeing so many friends got to me. The show was fun, definitely not my favourite Champs show, but good nonetheless. I also enjoyed the ride home, which reminds me that I still need to send petrol money over.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been this tired. The day was terrible, I had a pain flare up and I didn’t feel real. I got home, had dinner and was in bed for 8. I’d been crying from the moment I got in and I still can’t figure out what really caused it. It was needed though, and I felt much better this morning.

Today I had a half day at work, so I got to work from home. I love working from home because I can enjoy absolutely any snack I want to, and at any time. It’s also so much more relaxed. I wish I could do it every day.

This afternoon sucked though. I had to go to the hospital to find out the results of my endoscopy, and it was a complete waste of my time. They still can’t figure out what’s wrong with me, so that traumatic experience wasn’t necessary. I’ve had a few more tests booked in, but I’m really not hopeful. I’ve been trying to be taken seriously and to get a diagnosis since I was 8, and I have gotten nowhere.

Despite my current mixed emotions, I’m looking forward to the rest of the week. This weekend I’m either going to be taking Matt’s sister to see Goldsmiths or checking out West End Live. Fingers crossed I get a healthy mix of both!

the da vinci legacy : an e-arc review

I was provided with a free copy of this text in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the Apollo Publishers via Net Galley.

The Da Vinci Legacy: How an Elusive 16th-century Artist Became a Global Pop Icon written by Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Christopher Brown was certainly an interesting read. However, I think the scope was much too wide for the length of the novel, and consequently key details were missed.

Had more attention been paid to the finer details, such as the translation of all quotes rather than select ones; the presence of artworks in line with the discussion and not watermarked; and the phrasing I might have been able to provide the text with a higher rating. When non-fiction is presented as a ‘story’, the integrity of the authors must be interrogated.

There is an expectation that you should have read previous works by the authors as they mention that they’ve already provided information in previous books. This text is supposed to be an authoritative exploration and assessment of Leonardo’s enduring and evolving reputation across five hundred years. A reader should not be expected to read another two books to source necessary information. Had the authors wished to reference more in-depth discussions this should have been placed in the notes.

At times, the tone of the text was rather condescending. This was particularly evident when describing the pre-industrialisation of Europe and subsequent transformation in the nineteenth century. Yet, the tone did not affect the entire text. The biographies of artists and creatives across the centuries were often compelling and well-researched. In particular, I appreciated the mention of Matteo Bandello’s Novelle, which was modelled on Boccaccio’s Decameron and was used as a point of reference and inspiration for a handful of Shakespeare’s plays.

In my opinion, the conclusion of the book was rather weak, and argued that in the 21^st century, Leonardo has become ‘a maverick scientist and a brilliant engineer’, but this was their reasoning for him enduring through the twentieth century. The authors never delved into the twenty first century until the conclusion.

The select bibliography was surprising, in a non-fiction book I would expect a complete bibliography and credits for the images used. I also appreciate the limitations of the e-book format, but it would have been better if the notes could have been more easily accessed.

I would recommend this to anyone who knows very little about Da Vinci and would like a neat overview of art history. It’s a good starting place for anyone who is intrigued by the mystique of the Mona Lisa and Last Supper, and how Leonardo’s works infiltrated into the European consciousness.  

mid-week catch up [2]

This week has felt so damn long, I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. Being ill sucks, I just want a working body. 

I went to Thorpe Park with Aidan on Monday and it was so damn good, except for The Walking Dead, fuck that. I hate when you have to go through some sort of horror house to get to a ride, especially when I can’t keep my glasses on so I have absolutely no concept of where I am. I can only be grateful that because it was an off-peak date there were no live actors. 

After that experience the day got a little more stressful as I’d asked Matt to get tickets to the Jonas Brothers for me, and I know better than to trust Banquet’s website. So, I also tried to snag one. It was a hard fought battle as all the options kept coming up as sold out, eventually i got one though and as I was trying to pay Matt kept trying to call and was stopping the transaction from going through. Then I called him and he let me know that he’d only managed to get one ticket, so I had to keep refreshing until I got a third. I was having a complete panic though as I was trying to decide who I would disappoint if I could only get two, my mother or sister. What a nightmare.

Thankfully, we’re all going, and I cannot wait for next Wednesday to roll around!! I’ve even booked half a day off so I can meet my mom and sister at the station and we can all head to Kingston together. I kind of wish I could camp out all day though; I haven’t done that since I was a teenager. Anyone else remember that thrill? 

The afternoon introduced me to the gem that is Swarm, and it has replaced Nemesis as my favourite UK based rollercoaster. It’s such a smooth experience the whole time I was just like this! is! the! best!

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I also went on a ride called Vortex which was wild. It reminded me of the Flying Dutchman at Drayton Manor, but the seats were on the inside instead of the outside. I felt the wind through my septum piercing on it. Definitely one for the top ten strangest sensations list. 

On our way out we went to one of the game stalls and tried our luck. I wanted to win Matt a Bulbasaur because he’d missed out on one last summer. When he got home and saw him on the stool he was beaming, so it was definitely worth the money that I spent (which was definitely far too much).

I was a little apprehensive about visiting because I’d worked for Merlin last summer in their call centre and heard pretty much every complaint under the sun about the Resort. I had a fantastic time though and I’d definitely go back. 

Also, for anyone with a family/more than two friends, the cheapest way to go now is to get one season pass and then get some £15 tickets. The Pass works like the Alton Towers one so the tickets are available every day of the year that the park is open, just remember that the Pass itself requires upgrade tickets on certain days of the year! 

Tuesday brought me back to real life, but it was actually a really good day. I mentioned yesterday how productive it was, and today seems to be going the same way, even if it was difficult to wake up. 

For half of my swim I had an entire lane to myself, and there were no swimming lessons on which is always a bonus! The second half of my swim sucked because some man decided to join my slow lane and was cutting about and overtaking like he was trying to win a race. The amount of times he hit someone because he was going backwards and twice as fast as the rest of us was ridiculous. 

I wanted to call him out on it but you really don’t know how people are going to respond so I just settled for thinking hateful thoughts like a real mature adult. I wouldn’t have been so annoyed had the swimming lessons been on, but it was a super quiet day and there were two medium lanes and two fast lanes available, all with 2-3 people in. Does anyone else have people like this at their pool? Am I justified in my anger? 

The rest of the day was okay. Work was slow, and it feels like you’re talking to a brick wall sometimes. I did somewhat enjoy the OFS (Official Fun Squad) meeting. We were outlining all our events for the year and I have quite a few ideas for the Pride event since I’ve been tasked with putting it together.

I’d really like to create a zine and get other people from the office involved. I’m thinking it would be best to have it be semi-informative and semi-fun, and that it might lead to people actually using my pronouns.

My blog progress seems to have stalled, I hit 100 followers this weekend, but my Slow Saturday post only got two views which was a little disheartening. Maybe the post just sucks though.

This week has been pretty slow for reading, I’ve been working my way through The Da Vinci Legacy which I received through NetGalley and contemplating a review for another book that I finished. I’m just not yet sure how I feel about it, and I finished it almost two weeks ago. It wasn’t bad, there were just things that I didn’t agree with and I’m not sure how to convey my thoughts and feelings; my usual review style won’t work. 

I might also just waste the rest of this evening playing the Sims, since Sims 4 is free on Origin at the moment.

From Friday on I have a gig everyday until Wednesday so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get anything scheduled, and if I do, there’s no guarantee that it’ll actually post. I’ve never had a single scheduled post go up on time. If anyone knows how to fix that, please let me know!

I’m not sure if anyone will be at any of these gigs, but if you are and you see me, say hi!

⁃ Friday: Seaway in Liverpool
⁃ Saturday: Slam Dunk North
⁃ Sunday: Slam Dunk South
⁃ Monday: Trophy Eyes in London
⁃ Tuesday: Microwave in London
⁃ Wednesday: Jonas Brothers in Kingston