We visited the travelling Leonardo da Vinci Machines exhibit when it was at MOTAT in New Zealand. It’s a fascinating exhibit offering both visual and hands-on amazement. We comfortably recommend it, should it come to a town near you. Although it’s not currently in New Zealand, we have left this page here as a historical reference.
Leonardo da Vinci was a genius who was hundreds of years ahead of his time. Whether you know of him as an artist, an inventor, a designer, an anatomy expert, or a renaissance man, you will probably discover another facet of his brilliance at the Leonardo da Vinci Machines exhibit.
Travelling around the world, it is now in Auckland at MOTAT (the Museum of Transport and Technology) and is well worth a visit.
It is an exhibit designed for everyone. His technical sketches and built-to-scale machines appeal to adults while the opportunity to touch and try out many of the machines keeps younger children interested. Each machine is clearly marked with a green checkmark allowing visitors to “use with care”, or a red x for “do not touch”.
Here are some highlights of the da Vinci Machines exhibit
Hydraulic and aquatic
This hydraulic saw is a great example of how Leonardo used water to power many of his inventions, creating useful tools.
Leonardo da Vinci made improvements to the Archimedes’ Screw, a device used for pumping water. It is one of the many machines on display that visitors can try. There is even a footstool so smaller children can reach.
Military engineering
Flight
Sarah (our daughter on an AFS exchange) also visited a travelling Leonardo da Vinci flight exhibit in Argentina.
Leonardo used this model to verify experimentally if a rapidly flapped wing can support the body of a man in flight. He developed his hypothesis from the study of birds.
Don’t forget to look up while at the exhibit as that’s where you will find many of the flying machines.
Physics and mechanics
The signage is one of the reasons I think this exhibit appeals to everyone. The other is that most of the physics and mechanics machines allowed hands-on trials.
Alongside each built-to-scale invention is a sign featuring a copy of his sketches and drawings along with an easy to understand explanation.
Overall, It’s an exhibit for all ages. Teens and adults enjoy and understand it at a different level than younger kids.
Renaissance art
The de Vinci exhibit included his art as well as his machines.
Annunciation
According to the signage: “Begun when Leonardo was only about 21 years of age, the Annunciation was his first masterpiece. Set in the garden of a wealthy 15th Century Tuscan villa, the painting depicts the moment when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that She will soon become a mother.” This painting is so important that our Italian exchange student studied it at school for a month.
The secrets of the Mona Lisa
Two copies of the Mona Lisa hang side by side. The first represents how this masterpiece looks today; the second is digitally enhanced to return it to its original appearance. The signage offers interesting comparisons, highlighting changes over time.
Anatomy – The Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man, drawn by Leonardo around 1490, depicts the proportions of man based on the correlations of ideal human proportions. Italian minted Euro coins feature the Vitruvian Man.
Did you know…
. . . Leonardo’s surname is not da Vinci. Translated into English, it means Leonardo from Vinci, the town in which he was born. His full birth name is Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci meaning “Leonardo, son of Messer Piero from Vinci.”
Practical information on the da Vinci Machines exhibit
- Leonardo da Vinci Machines was at MOTAT from 30 July to 16 October 2016.
- MOTAT is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
- The main MOTAT museum is located at 805 Great North Road in the Western Springs district of Auckland. The Aviation Display Hall is located nearby, and there is a tram to transport you between the two.
- Entry to the da Vinci Machines exhibit is included with museum entry, as is the entry to both MOTAT facilities.
- MOTAT is one of my favourite museums. Not only does it offer hands-on family learning, but it also has travelling events throughout the year as well as fun events for Halloween or Matariki, and charitable events in the Christmas season.
Looking for more da Vinci?
If you want to know more about the great man, there are plenty of great books out there.
- Here’s a top rated biography that connects his art to science of Leonardo Da Vinci written by Walter Isacson.
- For a chance to get into his thoughts and beliefs, check out The Complete Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci.
- Or, check out his Complete Drawings.
Save for later
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Have you seen the da Vinci Machine exhibit at MOTAT or in your hometown? If not, don’t miss it!
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Disclaimer: MOTAT provided a media pass to this event. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
indah nuria
oh Rhonda..I really want to see them in person :). My kids will be so excited as well. We are big fans of Da Vinci..
Rhonda Albom
It was so cool. I was really lucky to have our exchange student with us as she spent a year studying da Vinci.
Paula McInerney
What a clever and innovative man. What ideas.
Rhonda Albom
He sure was a genius so far ahead of his time.
Michelle | michwanderlust
I’m always amazed by how versatile he was. How is it possible for one man to be so good at so many things?! I’ve seen the Vritruvian man on the 1-euro coins but never knew they were by him. Is there anything he couldn’t do??
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I hope that this exhibit comes to a museum near me as I would really enjoy seeing it. There’s a full scale model of his Flying Machine at Tokyo DisneySea, but I think that’s the only physical interpretation of Da Vinci’s drawings that I’ve ever seen. Indicating whether or not you can touch a model is a wonderful idea as I’m sure it’s not always obvious. Looking at that catapult on the naval boat, I was wondering how much rocking back and forth it would cause once the catapult was released.
Rhonda Albom
It seems to be traveling the world, so highly likely it will end up near you soon. As for the catapult, I would imagine that you are correct and it would be quite a bit rocky.
Anda
How interesting, so now the da Vinci machines have traveled to Australia. I’ve seen them at Château de Clos Luce in France, Leonardo da Vinci’s last residence. They were displayed there in a special room, as well as in the yard. It’s so interesting to see how far ahead of his time this man was.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – New Zealand 🙂
Trekking with Becky
FASCINATING! I really hope this comes to Moscow!
I knew that he was an inventor, but not to this extent. WOW!
Rhonda Albom
I hope so too.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
What a genius he was! I really look forward to being able to see this traveling exhibit when it comes somewhere closer to me. #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
Yes, I would recommend it.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
It’s interesting to see the two Mona Lisas side by side. I was lucky to visit the Clos Luce, the museum in Leonardo’s former home in France and the inventions displayed there are as astonishing as these
Rhonda Albom
That would be so amazing, to see the full collection. Wow.
Lydia C. Lee
It’s great these exhibits tour the world now…
Rhonda Albom
I agree. Traveling exhibits really open up the world.
Comedy Plus
I would love to visit here. How fun.
I didn’t know his real name either.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
I would imagine it will come to San Francisco at some point.
Van @ Snow in Tromso
Wow that is so impressive to see how much the Mona Lisa has changed over time! It probably is forbidden to take flash photographs of her then?! Haven’t been to the Louvre yet but she certainly seems to attracts millions of visitors each year!
Rhonda Albom
I almost never take flash photos, but rather high ISO shots.
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope)
Hes an extraordinary person and I can only wonder what he is going to built with the technology we have today, time travelling machine? Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
Interesting concept, I can’t even imagine how far he could advance technology if he were alive today.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
Da Vinci was a man so far ahead of his time. It makes you wonder about time travel.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I hadn’t thought about time travel and the possibility he visited the future from the past.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – I’ve loved Leonardo and his works for a long time … I went with my mother to Milan and we saw his museum there. His creations are extraordinary … and I gave a talk on him … but your photos are just brilliant … and it’s wonderful to see his works touring – it’s great what can be transported around the world so different countries can see works of art. It must have been a great visit …
Cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I would LOVE to go to his museum. Compared to that, this exhibit would just be a small sample. He is a genius.
Isabel
Wow! I would love to see an exposition of this someday. So interesting!
Rhonda Albom
It really is interesting. I would love to go back, I am sure I missed as much as I saw.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
This is such a great exhibit! I would love to visit any museum which has this. He was such an interesting and fascinating man of genius. So amazing how much he accomplished.
Rhonda Albom
If you can’t get to Auckland, I hope it visits wherever you are.
Kreete
All the art and the gadgets and inventions and flying machines! He really was one of a kind! I have seen a few displays about him in the museums in the world and it just keeps amazing me. If it ever comes to Sydney, I’d love to go see it. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
I would be really surprised if it didn’t make it over to Sydney.
Lexa Cain
That’s all so fascinating. I especially enjoyed the part about the Mona Lisa. I miss the blue sky, but like the fact she has more of a pink flesh color on her fce and chest now. Thanks for the “tour”!
Rhonda Albom
I was so pleased to see his artwork there. Being titled “da Vinci Machines” I did’t expect it.
L. Diane Wolfe
He had a really long name.
I would love to see that exhibit. I love ones that give you a hands on opportunity.
Rhonda Albom
I would imagine everyone from that time would have an equally long name.