Leonardo Da Vinci is known for his work as a painter, sculptor and inventor. His most famous works include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and Vitruvian Man.  His scientific work included anatomical sketches, the study of light, botanical studies, and more.

In his prolific body of work, there were bound to be projects that Da Vinci left unfinished. This includes pieces like ‘The Virgin and Child with St. Anne’ housed at the Louvre with the famous ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘St. Jerome in the Wilderness’ a painting housed in the Vatican Museums. None of Da Vinci’s sculptural or architectural projects were ever known to be completed.

Da Vinci also drew up rough plans for various inventions that could not be fully realized in his time. This includes the parachute, the helicopter, an armored car or tank, and a self-propelled cart (read: self-driving vehicle).  These designs and several prototypes never resulted in a ‘finished’ product in Da Vinci’s lifetime.

However, Da Vinci’s early sketches did contribute to the modern development of these inventions. It is nice to know that we can find some of Da Vinci’s unfinished work, build upon it and ‘collaborate’ with him to create the world we know today.

So put aside what you were doing, leave it unfinished while you visit Da Vinci, The Exhibition at Science Centre Singapore, from 18 Jun to 2 Jan 2022. Grab your tickets here!

Written by Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips
Illustrations by Lee Ai Cing