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Birmingham’s exhibition of Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci has been a huge success according to official figures from Birmingham City Council. Over 30,000 people have visited the exhibition held at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery since it opened on January 13th. They are the highest attendance figures since the Staffordshire hoard.

The exhibition features ten drawings that have been selected to show the extraordinary scope of Leonardo’s interests: painting, engineering, botany, mapmaking, hydraulics, anatomy and sculpture.

Amongst the works included in the exhibition is The head of Leda (c.1505-6).  The work, which is based on Greek mythology, is a preparatory drawing for the painting Leda and the Swan which was destroyed around 1700.

The drawing, which was  acquired for the Royal Collection by Charles II shows Leda with a modest downward glance which characterises most of the women in Leonardo’s paintings.  The artist has devoted minute attention to her complicated hairstyle of braided and interwoven plaits.

Cllr Martin Mullaney, said of the exhibition  “I am delighted by the huge public response to this magnificent show at Birmingham’s world class Museum and Art Gallery.

“This exhibition, which marks the start of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, is further evidence of the city’s reputation for attracting high profile exhibitions that will bring both local people and visitors to the city.”

The exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery runs until March 25th with free admission for all.