Genius in a jotter . . . Da Vinci's €23m notebook goes on display
Da Vinci?s 500-year-old text was written in mirror writing and contains many scientific and philosophical ideas still current in today's thinking
IT has been dubbed the most expensive "ideas jotter" in history.
An exhibition of one of Leonardo da Vinci's scientific notebooks was opened by President Mary McAleese in Dublin Castle last night.
The 'Codex Leicester' may be 500 years old but it shows some of the great scientific and philosophy ideas which are still in use today, including thoughts on flood control and strengthening bridges.
A huge security operation was undertaken in the Chester Beatty Library to protect the yellowed pages of science, which were bought by Microsoft founder Bill Gates for $31m (€23m) in 1994.
Important
Spanning 18 loose double sheets of linen, a special exhibition space has been built in the library to house the artefacts.
The Codex Leicester has observations by Da Vinci on nature and the property of water and is regarded as the most important of his notebooks.
In one of the pages on display, the scientist debates whether water is on the moon; while another describes how he has reached 853 conclusions in the writings.
The Codex - latin for a handwritten book - was renamed the Codex Leicester when it went into the charge of Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester and his descendants for over two centuries.
Composed in Italian between 1508 and 1510, all of the writings are from right to left with a mirror needed to read them.
Director of the Chester Beatty library Michael Ryan said it was a substantial achievement to secure the showing of the notebook.
The library had been campaigning since 2000 to secure it, heightening efforts from 2004.
"The demand to see it is unprecedented, we are booked out for next two weeks," said Dr Ryan.
Subtle lighting shows up the pages in the gallery while a computer system allows visitors to look at the detail of the scripts, which have over 300 pen and ink drawings, sketches and diagrams. Mr Gates' representative at the exhibition, Fred Schroeder, said the notebook had travelled to 15 cities over the past 12 years.
Speaking at the opening, Mrs McAleese asked whether Da Vinci would have imagined people speaking about his work 500 years after his death.
"I am not sure what he would have made of modern opinion polls, this man of detailed observation, of patient impatience, of desire to know truth rather than story; but I am sure that this exhibition of his work, his craft, will be overwhelmingly endorsed by the public who will vote with their feet," she said.
The exhibition is open until August 12; entrance is free but booking is required.
- Shane Hickey
