Leonardo’s Flying Machines

A Part Of Renaissance Art History

GeniusLeonardo’s

sketchbooks became more

than just a place to draw. They

became a record of his fascination with nature and his genius for

invention.

Features of his sketchbooks

• Multiple pencil drawings and sketches• Backwards form of writing that could

only be read with a mirror (Some historians speculate he did it to keep his writings private Others think that because he was left-handed, he just found it easier and faster to write this way)

• Lab note style, minimal organisation

Leonardo’s CodicesPresently, there are ten known codices containing Leonardo’s sketches and notes.

Flying Machines

Leonardo’s designs and

notes for flying machines appear

in several different codices.

DESIGN TASKFlying Machine

Copying the style of Leonardo da Vinci, design a page from a codex that shows the development of ideas for a flying machine.

Essential Features

• Multiple design sketches

• Mirror writing (translated into Italian if desired)

• A central 3-dimensional design, created using mixed media

• Aged – watercolour wash, ink spots, fountain pen/art-line

3-dimensional models

Examples of flying machines modelled from Leonardo’s codex designs.

3-dimensional models

Examples of flying machines modelled from

Leonardo’s codex designs.