Get a Human Skull, Describe Woodpecker's Tongue On Leonardo da Vinci's To Do List
Posted on April 5, 2012
An exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's private papers and drawings on human anatomy is going on display at at The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palce. This exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist, is the largest ever of Leonardo da Vinci's studies of the human body. It runs from Friday, 4 May 2012 to Sunday, 7 October 2012.
The Guardian reports that the writings include a to-do list and packing list of the legendary genius. The list includes reminders by Leonardo to "get hold of a skull" and "describe the tongue of a woodpecker." Here are the items on the list:
- On the Utilities. Spectacles with case, firestick, fork, bistoury [a surgical knife], charcoal, boards, sheets of paper, chalk, white wax, forceps, pane of glass, fine-tooth bone saw, scalpel, inkhorn, penknife.
- Get hold of a skull. Nutmeg.
- Observe the holes in the substance of the brain, where there are more of less of them.
- Describe the tongue of the woodpecker and jaw of a crocodile.
- Give measurement of the dead using his finger [as a unit].
- Get your books on anatomy bound. Boots, stockings, comb, towel, shirts, shoelaces, penknife, pens, a skin for the chest, gloves, wrapping paper, charcoal.
The Telegraph reports that Exhibition curator Martin Clayton's says da Vinci's list may have been written before a journey to the University of Pavia, where he dissected corpses.
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