THE Queen has loaned 12 drawings by Leonardo da Vinci to Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing will be displayed in twelve venues across the UK to mark the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death.

Kelvingrove is the only Scottish venue to host the exhibition, as144 drawings go on show around the country.

Highlights of the exhibition in Glasgow, from February until May, include works called A star-of-Bethlehem and other plants c.1506-12 and The anatomy of a bear's foot, c.1488-90.

Chairman of Glasgow Life, councillor David McDonald, said: “We are absolutely delighted drawings by Leonardo da Vinci will go on display at Kelvingrove Museum, as part of Royal Collection Trust’s nationwide event.

"As the only Scottish venue to host Leonardo drawings as part of the simultaneous display across the country, we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of works by an artist widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time.

“Over one million people visit Kelvingrove Museum every year and we are proud that like all Glasgow Museums it remains free to visit.

"Many of our visitors will be thrilled to hear a selection of Leonardo’s sketches is coming to Glasgow and that they will have the opportunity to see the master’s intricate drawings up close.

“Kelvingrove Museum houses one of Europe’s finest art collections and we’re excited to extend our offering by hosting Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to engage citizens and visitors alike and join in the national celebration of one of the most internationally-recognisable artists ever to have lived.”

After the exhibition the drawings will be brought together to form part of an exhibition of more than 200 sheets at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, in May 2019.

It will be the largest exhibition of Leonardo's work in more than 65 years.

A selection of 80 drawings will then travel to The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse in November 2019, the largest group of Leonardo's works ever shown in Scotland.

Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings at the Royal Collection Trust, said: "The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci are a national treasure, both incredibly beautiful and the main source of our knowledge of the artist.

"We hope that as many people as possible across the UK will take this unique opportunity to see these extraordinary works, which allow us to enter one of the greatest minds in history, and to understand the man and his achievements."

There are almost 600 drawings by Leonardo da Vinci in the Royal Collection.

They were originally bound into a single album, which was probably acquired in the 17th century by Charles II.

Beyond the 20 or so surviving paintings by Leonardo, the artist's drawings are the main source of our knowledge of this extraordinary Renaissance man and his many activities.

For more information visit www.royalcollection.org.uk/Leonardo500