EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION

BIBLIOTECA AMBROSIANA

On the coverThree-dimensional reconstructions of one of the volumes of the Codex Atlanticus

CODEX ATLANTICUS

For the first time in history, theCodex Atlanticus is available to thegeneral public. With 1750 drawingson 1119 pages, the Codex Atlanticusis the largest and most amazing col-lection of Leonardo’s manuscripts.Through the technology of high res-olution scanning we are now ableto present the most fascinatingpages an interactive workstations,giving the public the opportunity todiscover Leonardo’s machines forthemselves.

Leonardo3 srlHeadquartersVia Monte Napoleone, 920121 Milano, ItaliaT (+39) 02 79.41.81F (+39) 02 78.40.21

Labs and workshopVia Malpighi, 820129 Milano, Italia

www.leonardo3.netinfo@leonardo3.net

Copyright © 2005 by Leonardo3 srl - www.leonardo3.netAll rights reserved worldwide

THE VIRTUAL CODEXATLANTICUS OF LEONARDODA VINCI

. Description

. The Virtual Codex Atlanticus

. Over 150 interactive pages

. Interactive 3D models

. Over 50 three-dimensional models

. Worldwide exclusive

. Worldwide premiere

. Details of the traveling exhibition

. The codex

. Another historical first

. Details of the exhibition

. Interactive workstations

. The 1000 sq. ft. exhibition

. Static and dynamic panels

. Wooden models

. Data and technical info

. Target audience

. Exhibition dates

. Exhibition preview

. Merchandising

. Cost of the exhibition

. Who we are

. What L3 has done

. Credits

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The virtual Codex Atlanticus of Leonardo da Vinci

For the first time in history, the Codex Atlanticus is available to the general pub-lic. With 1750 drawings on 1119 pages, the Codex Atlanticus is the largest andmost amazing collection of Leonardo’s manuscripts.

Through the technology of high resolution scanning we are now able to pres-ent the most fascinating pages at interactive workstations, giving the public theopportunity to discover Leonardo’s machines for themselves.

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Over 150 interactive pages

All the inner secrets of Leonardo’s manuscripts at the touch of a button!Zoom in on the pages to see them in minute detail.You can’t do that with books!

The exclusive Digital Codex Technology of our L3 Labs lets you turn more then 150 pages ina way and with a detail never see before

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Interactive 3D models

We have carefully selected the most beautiful and fascinating pages for the gen-eral public. Turning the pages of our digital codex the audience discovers in-teresting designs (that can understand) and very few notes (which are obscureeven if translated). This is why our exhibition meets a great success of publicand press.

The original manuscript of the Codex Atlanticus is kept in the treasure room of theAmbrosiana Library of Milan, Italy. It’s not accessible to the public and until yesterday only

very expensive facsimile editions were available

Story

149r 154r 157r

172r 375r 518v

656r 696r 709r

710r 755r 812r

324v 837r 844r

855r 857r 945v

995r 1069r 1074r

1084r 1089r 1102r

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Over 50 three-dimensional models

For the first time, the two-dimensional designs of the machines are brought tolife! Just click on one of Leonardo’s machines to transform it into a functioning,3D, animated model, allowing you to see clearly how its mechanisms work. The collection of 3D digital machines is historically accurate because it’s the result of years of

researches of our scholars of Leonardo. This is why our models cannot be reproduced just usingtraditional 3D modeling skills

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Worldwide exclusive

This incredible exhibition is only possible thanks to an exclusive partnership withthe custodian of the original Codex Atlanticus, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, whichhas joined L3 in this unique project.

Worldwide premiere

This is the first time in history that Leonardo’s machines have been transformedinto working 3D models by a team of recognized da Vinci experts.

At the premiere of the exhibition in Milan, the original manuscript kept under security glasseswas exceptionally shown only to the journalists

It had never been done before! Wehave constructed a (scaled down)physical model of the Multi-CannonGunship – the machine on page 1 ofthe Codex Atlanticus. We chose this ma-chine for our model because its intri-cacy and inventiveness symbolize thesheer genius of Leonardo whichis the inspiration of the en-tire Codex.

With the aid of virtual reality, you canturn the most fascinating pages (morethan 150) of the Codex Atlanticus “withyour own hands”. You can flip themover (each one is a high resolution 3Dmodel based on the original manu-script) and home in on the finer details.Previous exhibitions provided onlystatic reproductions of selected pages.Even looking at the original manu-scripts themselves cannot competewith the immense possibilities of thisnew approach (in fact the premiere ofthis traveling exhibition took place atthe Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan,where the original manuscriptis conserved). But thehighlight of our ex-hibition is the in-tegration of 50working 3D andinteractive models ofthe most intriguingmachines. Just click onthe page and... the 3Dmodel pops up so thatyou can examine it, and see(and hear) it working...

Details of the travelingexhibition

“THE VIRTUAL CODEX ATLANTI-CUS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI” isa traveling exhibition (which can becustomized from 1000 to 3000+ sq. ft.)chock-full of educational hands-on ex-hibits. It explores the pages of the CodexAtlanticus, presenting Leonardo daVinci’s most fascinating inventions,such as the Articulated Wings, FlyingMachine, Field Artillery Gun, DoubleCrane, Catapult, Artillery Mortar,Swing Bridge, Complex Pulley, File-Making Tool, Self-propelled Car,Mechanical Drum, Piano-Viola,Printing Press, Odometers, etc.Many museums provide static modelsof Leonardo’s machines. We go muchfarther, bringing you the exhibition ofthe future. Our innovative new ap-proach provides something for every-one, whatever their level of interac-tion or understanding.

The codex Another historical first

Even on its own, the physical modelis intriguing, but there’s more… someof our interactive workstations arededicated to this incredible machine.Here the users can play an education-al videogame intended to teach themthe intricacies of this amazing 15thcentury invention.

The first page of the Codex has been studied for this exhibition and the result is the discovery ofa complex multicannon gunship that has been built in form of a physycal wooden model, never

shown before to the eyes of the public

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Interactive workstations

The exhibition provides three different types of installations:- interactive PC stations with LCD displays and touchscreens- interactive PC stations with video projectors- plasma stations: the “L3 Flat Table Experience” (an L3 exclusive) The public can enjoy standard or digital panels, physical wooden models and interactive stations

and touchscreens which explain the projects of Leonardo da Vinci using 3D models

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The 1000 sq. ft. exhibition uses:

- 2 interactive PC stations with LCD displays dedicated to the Codex Atlanticus- 1 interactive PC station with video projector dedicated to the Codex Atlanticus- 2 plasma stations, the “L3 Flat Table Experience”, for the Codex Atlanticus- 2 interactive PC stations with LCD displays dedicated to the Barrage Cannon Exhibitions over 1000 sq. ft. are customized. But any size can be customized and we can offer

even more then 20 wooden models, many of them are also hands-on for the public

Static and dynamic panels

In addition to the interactive stations, the exhibition includes illustrative pan-els (28” x 78”, the number can vary from 20 to 40, depending on the size of theexhibition chosen) describing the machines from the Codex Atlanticus with shorttexts and 3D graphics. These panels provide historical introductions to the in-

ventions and explore the more complex and interesting machines in depth.The standard exhibition uses static printed panels. These are also available, atan additional fee, in the form of the “L3 Dynamic Experience” - our exclusiveflat panel technology.

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Wooden models

The Multi-Cannon Gunship is presented in the special format of a large physi-cal model. No other exhibition or museum in the world has this exclusive wood-en model of Leonardo’s machine. Large exhibitions of over 1000 sq. ft. can becustomized to include additional wooden models, such us the first working pro-

totype of Leonardo’s Automobile or our large model of the Self-SupportingBridge or our big (never-seen-before) Flying Machine. The standard exhibitionuses static printed panels. These are also available, at an additional fee, in theform of the “L3 Dynamic Experience” - our exclusive flat panel technology.

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Target audience

Regardless of age, everyone can enter the virtual world of Leonardo and his mostfascinating Codex - the Codex Atlanticus - which is not only the biggest and mostwonderful of the Codices, but the only one devoted entirely to machines.Through the use of detailed models, interactive reconstructions, multimedia pre-

sentations and unique graphics, the visitor to the exhibition is immersed in aplethora of machinery, gears, tools and operating mechanisms demonstratingthat Leonardo’s inventions actually worked. This is a stimulating environmentthat responds to the need for hands-on learning.

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Exhibition dates

The first exhibition is currently onshow in Milan (Italy), at the BibliotecaAmbrosiana, the custodian of the orig-inal manuscript of the Codex Atlanticus.The event was considered so importantthat the Ambrosiana chose to presentit in the museum’s most importantroom - the one that houses The Schoolof Athens, the famous cartoon by

Raphael. Just a few steps away fromRaphael’s masterpiece you can see ourexhibition, the Virtual Codex Atlanticusof Leonardo: a unique mix of ancientand modern art and machinery. Theexhibition opened on 22 October 2005and is due to close on June 2006 (thanksto its success, the Ambrosiana has re-quested to extend it from the originaltermination date in January).

The Virtual Codex Atlanticus will alsobe the main attraction of the large ex-hibition on Leonardo that will runfrom April to September 2006 at theMuseum of Science and Industry inChicago, USA, the biggest science mu-seum in the western hemisphere.

In 2006 and 2007, the Virtual CodexAtlanticus will be hosted by major mu-seums all over the world.

A view of the exhibition hosted in the Room of Raphael at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana

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Exhibition preview

The exhibition can be adapted to suit different spaces; L3 can arrange a previewof the virtual exhibition to suit any space, before actual setup. This will help youorganize your space and also provide you with a marketing tool to show toprospective sponsors. Every exhibition space is carefully planned and the projects are rendered in 3D

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Merchandising

The graphics for the marketing and communication requirements of your ex-hibition are provided in digital format, so that each museum can customize itsneeds (posters, fliers, mini-posters...). There is also a CD-ROM and a 144 pagebook (in English and Italian - other languages such as Japanese will be ready

soon) of the Virtual Codex Atlanticus to put on sale in the museum shop.The Virtual Codex Atlanticus is a cultural event. In Italy it has received mediacoverage from all the major newspapers and magazines – we are sure the samething will happen where you are.

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Cost of exhibition

This is a unique experience with no comparisons. The 1000 sq. ft. version startsat xxxx xxxxxxx for a period of 3 months. This includes all materials (PC, screens,panels, models, software, etc.) translated into the local language. Insurance, trans-port and travel expenses for L3 personnel are not included.

The entrance of the Milan’s exhibition. On the right, the three partners of L3: Massimiliano Lisa, Mario Taddei

and Edoardo Zanon

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Who we are

Leonardo3 (L3) is an innovative mediacompany (research center and labora-tory, creation of exhibitions and mu-seums; editorial, television and mul-timedia projects; publishing house).Our mission is to study, interpret andmake our artistic and scientific her-itage available and enjoyable to thegeneral public through the use of in-novative techniques. In our work, weplace particular importance on three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions,hence the “3” in the name Leonardo3.At present, L3’s research laboratoriesand all our production work (physicaland three-dimensional models, books,multimedia aids, documentaries, ex-hibitions and museums) are dedicat-ed to the work of Leonardo da Vinciand our early results have arousedwide interest all over the world. Wewere the first people ever to make aworking prototype of Leonardo’sAutomobile, as well as virtual andphysical interpretations of around 50ingenious machines da Vinci designed,that had never before been brought tolife.As part of our efforts to promote theda Vinci’s work, we have created a

digital version of the Codex Atlanticus.Based on the original manuscripts ofhis most interesting work, we offer abrand-new, exclusive and high-reso-lution means of interacting withLeonardo. For the first time in historythe Codex Atlanticus is available forgeneral public to enjoy. But the reallynew element of our product is our up-to-the minute presentation of ourachievements. 3D models of the ma-chines spring from the images on thepage, allowing the viewer the oppor-tunity to manipulate them. In this way,thanks to the virtual models, it is pos-sible to understand how the designsactually function. The original manu-scripts are historic evidence ofLeonardo’s work but they are of in-terest mainly to enthusiasts and aca-demics, whereas the general publicwill be fascinated by our 3D recon-structions. L3 studies history and creates inno-vative means of communication to ex-plain and stimulate interest in the past.That is why we combine physical mod-els, three-dimensional reconstructionsand interactive software. In a nutshell,we believe in “edutainment” as an in-

strument for understanding the pastand going forward to meet the future.There is no doubt that Leonardo daVinci’s drawings are extraordinary inthemselves. But it is our modern wayof interpreting and popularizing themthat makes them truly incredible. Forthe first time in 500 years we can graspthe true significance of these wonder-ful designs. And this is only the be-ginning.

Part of the staff of L3 at the opening of the exhibition at the Federiciana Libary of theAmbrosiana of Milan, Italy (October, 2005)

- Research center and laboratory- Historical and scientific research- Creation of exhibitions and museums- Editorial production- Television and multimedia projects- Publishing house

Leonardo3’s activities

What Leonardo3 has done

Leonardo’s Car Study and production of the first 3Dmodel and then physical workingmodel in history (commissioned bythe IMSS, Florence, Italy).[04/2004]

Extraordinary Machines of LeonardoExhibition in New York (USA), FifthAvenue and Rainbow Room/Rockefel-ler Center, for the City of Milan.[10/2005]

The Virtual Codex AtlanticusExhibition in Milan (Italy), PinacotecaAmbrosiana, Sala del Cartone diRaffaello, October 2005-June 2006.[10/2005]

The Virtual Codex AtlanticusCD-ROM published jointly withGruner/Mondadori, Focus magazine,Italy; over 120,000 copies distributed.[10/2005]

Leonardo, Water and the RenaissanceTwo of the partners of the company arescholars ofLeonardo and created theexhibition Leonardo and Water. [03/2004]

Leonardo’s MachinesCo-authors of the book, published inItaly by Giunti, and of many otherpublications.[06/2005]

Leonardo’s Bridges - Codex Atlanticus Publishing and distribution of twobooks + CD-ROM (December 2005).[12/2005]

Licensing of images and animations formagazines, books and exhibitions inCanada, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden,United Kingdom and USA.

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Credits

The Virtual Codex AtlanticusTraveling exhibition available worldwidefor years 2006, 2007 and 2008

The event it’s produced by L3 in col-laboration with the BibliotecaAmbrosiana, the owner of the originalmanuscript since the 16th century.

The CD-ROM of the Codex Atlanti-cus is available for sale and licenseworldwide.

Production and organizationLeonardo3

ConceptMassimiliano LisaMario TaddeiEdoardo Zanon

Interpretations and machinephilologyMario TaddeiEdoardo Zanon

Editorial supervisionMassimiliano Lisa

Multimedia graphics and softwareStefano ArmeniFrancesca BertolettiLucio CarsiEmanuele Degli AntoniEmma LeonelloMassimiliano LisaSimona NoventaMario TaddeiEdoardo Zanon

LayoutLeonardo3 and Falegnameria Gasperi

Physical modelsLeonardo3 and Falegnameria MAGIL

We wish to thankMarco BenzoniAndrea BernardoniAndrea De MichelisAgostino FontanaElena FontanaMons. Gianfranco RavasiCarlo Reina

With assistance fromNEC Display and Dell Computers

For any inquiries in Japan and Asianarea, please contact our partner, ATUMCorporation (Japanese available)

ATUM CORPORATION6-18-27 Shimomeguro Meguro-kuTokyo, Japan 153-0064TEL. +81(0)3-3760-1333FAX +81(0)3-3760-133

BIBLIOTECAAMBROSIANA

Leonardo3 srl

HeadquartersVia Monte Napoleone, 920121 Milano, ItaliaT (+39) 02 79.41.81F (+39) 02 78.40.21

LabsVia Malpighi, 820129 Milano, Italia

www.leonardo3.netinfo@leonardo3.net

© Copyright 2006 by Leonardo3 srl, Milano - Italy