Page 36 - All About History - Issue 58-17

Da Vinci: Was he Really a Genius?

the model inventor

Roberto Guatelli popularised the idea that Leonardo was an engineer

In his lifetime, Leonardo was celebrated as an artist and was After World War Two, the model maker went back to the
lauded for his detailed observations in the 19th century when US. Calling himself ‘Doctor Guatelli’ his new show included
his notebooks were rediscovered. But it wasn’t until the 20th 56 Leonardo reproductions that he made himself from
century that Leonardo was regarded as an inventor. This was oak, walnut, brass and bronze. In 1951, Guatelli found a
largely due to Roberto Guatelli, a science and engineering new patron in IBM. The computing giant was keen to attach
graduate from the University of Milan who made a career its name to Leonardo’s, sponsoring Guatelli’s displays at
out of building and exhibiting ‘interpretations’ of Da Vinci’s schools, offices, labs, museums , galleries and IBM’s own
sketches. This began in 1939, when Benito Mussolini’s fascist headquarters in New York throughout the 1950s. The tech
government was looking for a hero to demonstrate Italy’s company also bought several of Guatelli’s models so that
historic dominance over science, technology and the arts. they could be publicly donated to museums in Italy.
Guatelli was hired with a number of others to create models While Guatelli’s exhibits did a lot to raise the profile of
for major exhibition in Milan. The Italian Ministry of Culture Leonardo’s ideas — as well as IBM’s brand — they gave the
The earliest reproductions of Da later took this show on the road, sending Guatelli and the false impression that he had built his sketches and, whats
Vinci’s sketches on display in models first to New York in 1940 and then to Tokyo for the more, if you took them out of Guatelli’s display case that the
fascist Italy, 1939
remainder of the interwar years. models would actually work.

e rs have determined that it would Another of da Vinci’s inventions that showcased
a avy to leave the ground. his knowledge of mechanical engineering was his
Another one f these flying machines is from knight automaton, fondly known as ‘Leonardo’s
n
months of observing the flight robot’ today. It had a pulley and cable system
n as the orinthopter, its name is a that allowed it to move its arms and head
b of the Greek for ‘bird’ and ‘flying.’ independently, as well as to sit up and down,
e no surprise that this vehicle required utilising da Vinci’s mechanical skills.
p o lie in the prone position, using his Unlike most of da Vinci’s ideas, he is believed
s legs to push and pull levers that would to have actually built his knight and presented it
ope the wings. It goes without saying that at a celebration held by Sforza in Milan in 1495.
there’s no way this would have worked either. Roboticist Mark Rosheim also built a working
That’s not to say that all of Leonardo’s designs replica based on the artist’s sketches in 2002.
were bad. He designed a parachute in 1485 with In 1499, da Vinci was forced to flee Milan after
which a man “will be able to throw himself down the French invaded and overthrew Sforza. He
any great height without suffering any injury.” ended up in Venice, where he came up with the
At first glance, it looks far too heavy, featuring idea for a scuba diving suit, thinking it would
a wooden pyramid frame covered with a sealed enable underwater attacks on enemies when the
linen cloth. However, back in 2000, British city was under siege. He devised a suit with cane
skydiver Adrian Nicholas built da Vinci’s parachute tubes, connected to a bell-shaped float that would There are barely any contemporary
true to his design and successfully proved that it remain above water, ensuring airflow for the diver. images of da Vinci in existence —
this is believed to be his self-portrait
did in fact work. Remarkably similar to those that would appear
The Last Supper is considered to be
one of da Vinci’s finest works and
it took years for him to complete

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