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The glorious 24-foot bronze horse that was never completed stands at The Tech.*

Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72), said that “a man can do all things if he will.” Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance man, gave it his all.

Leonardo the scientist experimented with anatomy, zoology, botany, geology, optics, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics. Leonardo the inventor used levers and gears in many of his inventions, and recognized water as a source of power. His study of light and shadow, plus his knowledge of anatomy gave reality and depth to his art. Leonardo found time to compose music too.

* Ludovico Sforza commissioned Leonardo to make a four times larger than life bronze statue of the late Duke of Milan on horseback. Unfortunately It took Leonardo so many years to study horses (and then to perfect a casting technique) that all was lost when France invaded Italy. The bronze that had been set aside for the project was instead turned into weapons of mass destruction – in those days cannons!

Note: The statue at The Tech is constructed of steel and Fiberglass. It will be on display through January 4, 2009.

The works of Leonardo da Vinci and his contemporaries: Leonardo – ‘500 Years into the Future’ the exhibit – will give visitors a rare opportunity to see what is possible.

The Tech Museum of Innovation – ‘500 Years into the Future’ ^[2]

September 27, 2008 – January 4, 2009 (This will be the only U.S. showing)