HOUSTON, TEXAS - It has been said that a “jack of all trades is master of none,” a figure of speech implying that one must focus on a single field in order to become proficient at it. As the original “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci is certainly the exception to the rule. Among his diverse talents, da Vinci designed flying machines, robots, submarines, underwater breathing gear and solar powered industries; laid most of the groundwork for the artificial heart valve; and created some of the greatest paintings in the history of art. With little formal education, Leonardo demonstrated his brilliance by mastering diverse subjects and fusing them together through observation, insight and inspiration.
 
Decipher the mystery of this extraordinary intellect in Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius, a spectacular exhibition which reveals the ingenuity and brilliance of a man ahead of his time. Explore the myths and legends surrounding da Vinci’s life, and consider how his legacy inspires and challenges us today, when this remarkable exhibition opens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, March 7, 2008, on view through Sept. 1, 2008.
 
“A multi-faceted genius of Leonardo da Vinci’s caliber has rarely been seen in human history. He had so many different interests—and excelled in so many different areas–that he truly is the quintessential “renaissance man,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Almost 500 years after his death, people still marvel at the astonishing breadth and depth of his accomplishments. We hope visitors will be inspired by the way da Vinci thought and worked to get more in touch with their own ‘inner creative genius’ and use it to better their everyday lives.”
 
Long associated with paintings such as Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Leonardo’s talents extended far beyond his paintbrush into the fields of science and engineering. He was also a prolific inventor. During his lifetime, Leonardo produced thousands of individual sketches, inventions and designs exploring topics from human flight to warfare and the natural world.
 
Guests will explore more than 50 custom-built wooden models of Leonardo’s most innovative designs and inventions, including a hang glider, helicopter, military tank and elegant bridge structures—many of which can be seen realized in today’s technology. These models have been produced in vivid detail from his original drawings by skilled Italian craftsmen in Florence, Italy. Numerous models will be interactive and hands-on, and guests are encouraged to push, pull and crank for a greater understanding of their purpose and operation.
 
“Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most diversely intelligent person to have ever lived,” said David Temple, associate curator of paleontology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “He excelled far beyond the scientific horizons of his time by inventing technologically advanced equipment like the underwater breathing device that is used by scuba-divers today, as well as by improving upon previous designs of a tank for soldiers to maneuver safely through war zones. Visitors will be able to see models of these ingenious inventions, and many more, in the exhibition.”
 
Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius is underwritten locally by The Hamill Foundation and The Harriet and Truett Latimer Endowment Fund.
 
The Houston Museum of Natural Science—one of the nation’s most heavily attended museums—is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham IMAX® Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at One Hermann Circle Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure.  For tickets, or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.