Florence and The Machines
Most of us know him as the painter of such famous works as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, but Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) was a true polymath whose areas of interest included anatomy, architecture, astronomy, engineering, music, mathematics, science and sculpture.
Revered for his ingenuity, Da Vinci was a man ahead of his time. Amongst a myriad of other things, he conceptualised flying machines, armoured fighting vehicles and automatons (robots) in medieval armour. However, he never published his concepts or findings, and very few of his designs could be constructed feasibly during his time. I did not know any of this until our trip to Florence.
In Florence, which is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, you will find Museo Le Macchine Di Leonardo Da Vinci—an ode to the brilliant scientific mind of Leonardo da Vinci, who is considered a perfect example of the ‘Renaissance Man’. Don’t be fooled by the modest storefront of Le Macchine Di Leonardo. This space, dedicated to Da Vinci’s machines, houses more than 50 models of flying machines, war machines and machines for civil engineering—all built based on Da Vinci’s designs and using materials of his time: wood, metal, rope and fabric. Most of these models are real working machines.
Right about now you might be writing off Le Macchine Di Leonardo as a place for kids/science buffs/nerds/geeks. Dare I suggest that this holds wider appeal? I would, in fact, go so far as to say that it is an underrated and captivating experience—well worth an hour or two of your time in Florence.
Now, if you are anything like me, you have staunchly avoided any contact with mathematics and science subjects after completing the mandatory bits of these at school. The very thought of this museum will probably bring up flashbacks of boring school field trips (where the primary appeal lay in having a whole school day outside school). So when Kapil suggested we visit this museum I agreed only because he was very excited about it. In the couple of days prior we had spent hours exploring the impressive Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell’ Accademia, so I went in to this one expecting to be underwhelmed and slightly bored.
I was wrong. Within minutes of entering this space, I understood Kapil’s excitement about it. Yes, Da Vinci's body of work was captivating, but it wasn’t just that. Looking at the machines and then watching a documentary on Leonardo Da Vinci’s life got me thinking about a number of non-science things.
In the centuries since Da Vinci's death, we have built, then improved upon, and then advanced beyond the technology he envisioned, but many lessons from his life are relevant even today:
Grit: Da Vinci was born out of wedlock. His father was a wealthy Florentine attorney and notary, his mother was a peasant. Based on the varying accounts of his early childhood, it seems likely he did not spend much time with either parent (both went on to marry other people) However, he did not let the circumstances of his childhood limit the scale of his dreams or his achievements. Proof of his tenacity lies also in the fact that he kept working on concepts and designs for machines even though many of his ideas were not feasible because of being way ahead of the advances in engineering and metallurgy at the time.
Versatility: In addition to receiving several independent commissions to create art, Leonardo Da Vinci also had different patrons at various points in his life. During his lifetime Da Vinci wore several hats, either based on the skill his patrons most valued at the time, or based on what they called upon him to do— painter, sculptor, architect, civil engineer, military engineer, cartographer…. Wars, changes in the political landscape, and even changes in the world of art led him to move from one city to another. Whatever the circumstances, he did what was required to stay relevant.
Creativity and Innovation: Specialisation, we are told, is essential for success. Keen interest in a wide range of subjects is generally considered indicative of a lack of focus and direction, which ultimately results in failure to accomplish anything. Yet, Da Vinci did exactly that and thrived. Over his lifetime, Da Vinci explored many (seemingly) unrelated subjects. I believe he accomplished a lot because even though his explorations were many, his focus was always singular. He was always engaged in the act of creating something. This focus on creation and innovation (perhaps in a quest for recognition and greatness) kept him from carelessly frittering away time and effort. In fact, his exploration of one area seems to have influenced, and in many cases, improved his output in another area—his knowledge of anatomy enriched his paintings and sculptures, his interest in engineering helped him design the flying, war and hydraulic machines. Every single machine in the museum bears testament to Da Vinci’s ingenuity.
This unassuming museum was an unexpected delight in Florence—a city that is known for the grandeur of its iconic architecture and art. Museo Le Macchine Di Leonardo Da Vinci is also referred to as Museo Leonardo da Vinci Firenze and is part of Galleria Michelangelo on Via Camillo Benso Cavour, between Museo di San Marco and Palazzo Medici Riccardi (not to be confused with the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum which is on Via Dei Servi). Walk too fast and you might miss it altogether. Keep an eye out for a wooden cycle outside the main door.
