About the History of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Horse, Inc.
- Founded by Charles C. Dent of Allentown, PA, and
incorporated with non-profit status in 1982.
- Its mission was to finish the horse, honor the Italian
Renaissance and Leonardo, and encourage curiosity and
creativity among youth.
- Mr. Dent, the uncle of U.S. Congressman Charles W. Dent,
passed away in 1994, leaving the corporation to finish the
project.
- Organization completed the original horse in 1999 and
gave it to the people of Milan, Italy as a gift of thanks for the
Renaissance.
- Subsequently, several replica statutes have been
completed, one of which stands in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
and another stands in downtown Allentown, PA. Smaller
versions of the statue stand in Vinci, Italy, Allentown’s
“Sister City” and in the Da Vinci Discovery Center of
Science and Technology.
- LVDHI merged with the Discovery Center of Science and
Technology in 2003 to form the Da Vinci Discovery Center of
Science and Technology.
- LVDHI Final Board of Trustees was comprised of: Martha
Hutson-Saxton, Chair; Peter C. Dent, President; Cynthia
Farris, Secretary; Milan J. Kralik, Jr.; Jeffrey Matzkin, Esq.;
Larry Miley, Treasurer; and Edith Ritter.
About the Original Horse Statue, Milan, Italy
- Eight-foot clay model sculpted by Nina Akamu based on
Leonardo da Vinci's drawings.
- Work included input from Council of Scholars and Sculptor's
Advisory Committee.
- Enlarged to 24 feet in clay by Tallix Art Foundry in
Beacon, NY.
- Final sculpting by Nina Akamu and team of seven
assistants.
- Height: 24 feet; weight with armature: 15 tons.
- Engineered to withstand wind shear and earthquakes.
- Cast at Tallix Art Foundry.
- Contains silicon bronze, alloy #872.
- Armature made of stainless steel, type 304.
- Flown to Italy courtesy of Alitalia.
- Mounted on a pedestal of Carrara marble
- Installed in Milan, Italy, at the cultural park in the San Siro
Hippodrome.
- Unveiled on September 10, 1999, as a gift the Italian people
from the American people.
About the American Horse Statue, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Unveiled October 7, 1999.
- Located at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, which is Michigan's leading Botanical and
Sculpture Garden.
- Displayed at ground level that allows easy visitor interaction.
- Accompanied by a Renaissance Education Center that
houses an eight-foot version of the horse.
About the Vinci Horse, Vinci, Italy
- Statue comprised of an eight-foot bronze casting.
- Unveiled September 15, 2001.
- Dedicated November 17, 2001.
- Made possible by gifts from Frederik & Lena Meijer; the
family of Ambassador Peter F. and Joan Secchia; LDVHI;
Tallix Art Foundry and the Comune of Vinci.
- Project Coordinator was Dr. Giorgio Morelli.
- Flown to Italy courtesy of Alitalia.
- Became the Inspiration for sister city relationship between
Allentown, PA (birthplace of Charles C. Dent) and Vinci,
Italy (birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci).
- Accompanied by a plaza in Vinci named after Charles C.
Dent as a tribute to his memory.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||