Fact Sheet

LDVHI

• Founded by Charles C. Dent
• Incorporated with non-profit status in 1982
• Seven member Board of Trustees
Martha Hutson-Saxton, Chair
Peter C. Dent, President
Cynthia Farris, Secretary
Milan J. Kralik, Jr.
Jeffrey Matzkin, Esq.
Larry Miley, Treasurer
Edith Ritter

Purpose

• To honor the Italian Renaissance and its immense cultural, artistic and scientific legacy
• To honor Leonardo da Vinci and his extraordinary genius
• To honor the noble horse, man's companion throughout history
• To encourage curiosity, imagination, creativity among youth
• To stand as a symbol of friendship between nations

Master Model

• Eight-foot clay model sculpted by Nina Akamu
• Based on Leonardo da Vinci's drawings
• Input from Council of Scholars and Sculptor's Advisory Committee
• Enlarged to 24 feet in clay by Tallix Art Foundry, Beacon, NY
• Final sculpting by Nina Akamu and team of seven assistants

Final Horse

• Height: 24 feet; weight with armature: 15 tons
• Engineered to withstand wind shear and earthquakes
• Cast at Tallix Art Foundry
• Silicon bronze, Alloy #872
• Armature of stainless steel, Type 304
• Flown to Italy courtesy of Alitalia
• Mounted on a pedestal of Carrara marble
• Installation: Milan, Italy at the cultural park in the San Siro Hippodrome
• Unveiled: September 10, 1999
• A gift to the Italian people from the American people

American Horse

• Second casting of the 24-foot model
• 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 which allows easy visitor interaction
• Accompanied by a Renaissance Education Center which houses an eight-foot version of the horse

Vinci Horse

• 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
• Inspiration for sister city relationship between Allentown, PA (birthplace of Charles C. Dent) and Vinci, Italy (birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci)
• Plaza in Vinci named after Charles C. Dent as a tribute to his memory

Education Outreach

• Lessons plans created by teachers are posted on LDVHI web site
• Lesson plans developed and distributed through Crayola's "Dream-Makers" program reached 2.4 million students
• In collaboration with Pennsylvania Art Education Association, lesson plans distributed to over one thousand Pennsylvania art teachers
• Eight-foot fiberglass horse, fiberglass hoof of twenty-four foot horse, and explanatory display panels traveled to schools and events in 2000 and 2001 inspiring thousands of students and individuals
• Public and school performances by Leonardo da Vinci, historically portrayed by George Miller, Artistic Director of The Theatre Outlet
• Art Contest held in Allentown, PA and Vinci, Italy for school students. First place winner of Allentown competition won a week-long trip to Vinci as part of an annual student exchange between Allentown and Vinci
• Resources section on LDVHI website includes suggested reading and links to other Leonardo da Vinci related web sites