The Royal Collection and Sir David Attenborough have collaborated on an exhibition of drawings, sketches and paintings of the wonders of nature. The Amazing Rare Things London exhibition at Buckingham Palace features the works of four artists and a collector, including Leonardo da Vinci, whose contributions changed the way the people of their times viewed the natural world.

Amazing Rare Things London
Having previoulsy been on show in Edinburgh, Amazing Rare Things comes to Buckingham Palace to highlight the way nature was centuries ago, when things we take for granted now were just being discovered. Studies of now-common plants like tulips, sunflowers and hyacinths and animals such as macaws and the American bison are all included in the exhibition, along with details of biological and technological breakthroughs.

Da Vinci’s drawings
There will also be 18 drawings by Leonardo da Vinci on display at the exhibition, including studies of the anatomy of horses, cows and bears. Although there is something a bit surreal about looking at drawings of a cow’s uterus or a bear’s dissected foot, da Vinci’s theories on anatomy and biology undoubtedly changed the face of both science and medicine.

Other featured artists
Other artists included in the Amazing Rare Things London exhibition include gardener and cultivator Alexander Marshal, etymologist Maria Sibylla Merian, nature painter Mark Catesby and antiquarian collector Cassiano dal Pozzo. Their work helped to prevent the extinction of many plant and animals species, although some, like the passenger pigeon, weren’t so lucky.

Attenborough’s influence
Fans of the bird-mimicking, termite mound-burrowing documentarian Sir David Attenborough will be glad to know that he’s had a hand in choosing the items on display. Attenborough, in collaboration with the Royal Collection, has personally selected the drawings and paintings from the collections of Royal Library.

Amazing Rare Things London is on show at the Queen’s Gallery from 14th March 2008 to 28th September 2008. For more tickets and information, click on the link below.