More than 300 guests gathered at Bristol’s Museum & Art Gallery this week for as a private view of a unique exhibition of work by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci.
Accountancy, tax and investment management firm Smith & Williamson, which has an office in Bristol, is one of the main sponsors of the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition.
Bristol is one of 12 cities displaying 12 original drawings, selected to reflect the full range of the artist’s interests, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany.
The drawings from the Royal Collection Trust are being shared across the UK to mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death in 1519. They include examples of all the drawing materials employed by Leonardo, including pen and ink, red and black chalks, watercolour and metalpoint.
Louise Somerset, private client tax partner in Smith & Williamson’s Bristol office, told the gathering: “We are proud to be playing a part in ensuring Bristol is involved in this fantastic national event. It will be one of the biggest cultural events in the city in 2019.”
Museum & Art Gallery fine art curator Dr Jenny Gaschke added: “Leonardo da Vinci is the artist, possibly along with Vincent van Gogh, of whom everyone has heard.
“However, unlike Vincent, Leonardo’s work was popular in his own lifetime. It has always been a touchstone of European art history and has never really left the canon.”
Guests also heard from Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, Peaches Golding, and watched a video from Prince Charles, who is the chairman of the Royal Collection Trust.
Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing is also sponsored by Clifton High School and Resource Solutions Group and runs in Bristol until May 6.
Following that all 144 drawings will be brought together for a major exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. A selection of 80 drawings will then travel to The Queen’s Gallery at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in November.
Pictured below, from left: Museum & Art Gallery fine art curator Dr Jenny Gaschke, Smith & Williamson partner Nigel Hardy, Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol Peaches Golding and Smith & Williamson private client tax partner Louise Somerset
Pictured below: Guests listen to the speeches at the private view of Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing at the City Museum & Art Gallery
