Don't Miss Da Vinci's Drawings at Sunderland Museum

After high hopes, interrupting illnesses, and weeks of waiting, I finally got to experience Sunderland's Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition. Following a captivating lecture last month with Martin Clayton, which I wrote about here — I was expecting to be amazed by da Vinci's works. And I was. As Clayton explained, twelve cities across the country were selected to house exhibitions marking 500 years since the artist's death. Each one received a fair distribution of the drawings held by the Royal Collection Trust.

I found the curation at Sunderland to be spot on. There's something for everybody, showcasing a range of portraits, medical illustrations, maps, botanical sketches, costume designs, and military works. The exhibition is laid out in a visual timeline of da Vinci's life, with each art piece described.

My boyfriend and I stayed comfortably for one hour, the allocated time for our tickets, even though the gallery isn't big and there's no guided tour. But you'll pass a seating area outside, where a video explains da Vinci's technical process. It dives into what's on display, offering the perfect spot to wait and brush up on the facts beforehand. Our mid-afternoon slot was fully booked, yet the atmosphere was relaxed, letting visitors move at their own pace.

We were taken aback by the small size of da Vinci's works. His handwriting was minute, becoming cramped and messy the further he got down the page, which is so relatable. The subtleties of his doodles and faint errors in his sketches are even more magnificent than the completed drawings. In every piece, however, his genius shines undoubtedly through.

One man brought a magnifying glass, and I wish I'd thought of that. Da Vinci's work is filled with the finest details so tiny that we were glad there was no rope to keep us back. Whether you're an art enthusiast or just curious about the fuss, the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens exhibition is a must-see. It's not every day you get up close and personal with one of the most famous artists in the world. For just £2.50, you've got until 6th May to see it.