Detail of a mechanical wing
Made by
Istituto Tecnico Professionale “Leonardo da Vinci” di Firenze
1929
Made in 1929 by the Istituto Tecnico Industriale āLeonardo da Vinciā and donated to the Museo Leonardiano in 1938,Ā the model represents a mechanical wing formed by several articulated segments linked using control lines.Ā The structure replicates theĀ anatomy of a bird wing, with bones, sinews, and cartilage.
TheĀ three lower control linesĀ haveĀ the purpose of flexing, or closing, the wing, whileĀ the upper ones activate the command for extension, opening it. For the junctures of the sections and for the control lines, leather and silk thread were used, those materials suggested by Leonardo himself. The design was taken from a drawing in theĀ Codex on the Flight of Birds, compiled by Leonardo at the start of the 1500s, when he was at Florence, dedicating himself passionately to theĀ observation of birds and the study of their flight techniques and bodily structure.
It was during this period that the scientist began to doubt whether human muscles would be able to produce the energy necessary to drive a flying machine with beating wings, leading to his conviction that the sole form of flight practicable for a human was that in which the propulsion would be entrusted entirely to air currents.
Technical informations
Type of exhibit
Model
Collection
Material
Carved/partially painted walnut wood, leather, cotton rope, iron
Measures
Height: 40 cm.
Storage location
Relationship with the original work
Source: Leonardo da Vinci, Codex on the Flight of Birds, f. 11 v
Inventory number
Record n. OA: 00000022
Location
Museo Leonardiano, Counts Guidi's castle, ground floor