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Wednesday, 11 May 2011 01:34

Leonardo da Vinci show at National Gallery to limit visitor numbers

Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin of the Rocks (detail pictured), one of seven paintings by the artist to go on show at the National Gallery. Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin of the Rocks (detail pictured), one of seven paintings by the artist to go on show at the National Gallery. Photograph: The National Gallery

It will be a singular opportunity to see half of Leonardo da Vinci's extraordinary paintings together at one exhibition and the National Gallery has announced it will attempt to make the experience as joyous as possible by restricting visitor numbers.

The Leonardo show, which examines the artist's years as painter at the court of the ruler of Milan, promises to be one of the most popular art exhibitions ever. Its scale is unprecedented: to get the loan of one of his 14 paintings would be something of an achievement but to get seven is "miraculous", said Luke Syson, curator of the show.

Nicholas Penny, the gallery's director, called the show "a great triumph in diplomacy" with paintings leaving galleries in Italy and France for the first time. But anyone who visited the successful Gauguin show at Tate Modern or Van Gogh at the Royal Academy will know the downside of trying to see incredible art in a crowded gallery.

"There is going to be tremendous demand and we have taken a number of unusual steps to try and ensure people are not too disappointed," said Penny. "It is very important that people study our website before they come to the exhibition. They can download all the information that people stand and read beforehand. The whole experience can be properly prepared for."

The gallery is also reducing the number of people at the show at one time. Instead of the usual health and safety limit of 230, 180 visitors will be allowed each half hour. The show opens in November, but the gallery is giving people plenty of time to book in advance by opening sales on Tuesday. Those hoping to buy tickets on the day are being told they face disappointment. The show will run for only three months because, understandably, the other galleries want their paintings back, but it will be open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 7pm on Sundays. Opening times will be extended further in the last two weeks.

The measures are being taken because of the show's unprecedented nature. Leonardo is known for so many things – his inventions, his draughtmanship and, if you read Dan Brown, his role in a religious conspiracy – but this exhibition will be the biggest dedicated to his art and his aims and ambitions as a painter.

"You're not going to be seeing submarines and flying machines and embyros that we, of course, also associate with that great genius," said Penny.

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