An exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci drawings is predicted to bring tens of thousands of tourists to Dundee in August.
Buckingham Palace has released images of the exhibition, entitled 10 Drawings By Leonardo da Vinci A Diamond Jubilee Celebration, which is part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
They include the world-famous The Head Of Leda, Scenes Of The Apocalypse and The Head Of An Old Bearded Man In Profile.
A similar exhibition of rare da Vinci works in London the most complete display of his rare surviving paintings ever has drawn tens of thousands to the National Gallery since it opened two weeks ago.
It is expected the Dundee exhibition at the McManus Galleries will prove as popular with locals and visitors alike and is predicted to provide a huge tourism boost.
Leisure and Culture Dundee chairman Bob Duncan said: ”It’s just fantastic for McManus to be recognised in this way. I’m delighted that they are coming up to Dundee with this exhibition. When you look at the collections we have had recently at the McManus this is just the icing on the cake for us it will be enormously popular.”
Royal Collection director Jonathan Marsden said: ”The exhibition next autumn will be a unique opportunity to see some of the most fascinating and accomplished drawings ever produced and to engage at first hand with one of the greatest minds of all time.
”It is our aim that they should be seen and enjoyed by the widest possible range of people while they are in Dundee.”
Moira Payne, programme leader in fine art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said: ”It’s a fantastic opportunity for Dundee. It’s a university town and it’s a great coup for the McManus.
”Leonardo da Vinci was the Renaissance man he was a scientist as well as an artist and was somebody who illustrated life through his drawings.
”It adds to the developing cultural quarter in the city and the growing excitement already with the V&A and of course the refurbished McManus Galleries.”
Royal Collection members will visit Dundee next month to outline plans.
The drawings reflect all of Da Vinci’s activities, from painting to sculpture and architecture, engineering, botany, geology, cartography, hydraulics, optics and anatomy.
The 15th- and 16th-century work, from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, will be on display at the McManus from August 31 until November 4.