'Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci: A Diamond Jubilee Exhibition from the Royal Collection' shows the extraordinary scope of Leonardo's interests - painting and sculpture, botany, anatomy, engineering, mapmaking and hydraulics.

His drawings use a number of different media - pen and ink, red and black chalks and metalpoint.

The exhibition, which runs until 27 August, is being staged in collaboration with the Royal Collection Trust.

The Ulster Museum will open on Mondays during July and August to facilitate demand over the holiday period.

This is a special exhibition which wonderfully illustrates the profound artistic and intellectual ability of one of the world's most famous men.

Anne Stewart, Curator of Fine Art

Tim Cooke, Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, said it will be first time these works by one of the world's most well-known artists will be on display here.

"We are sure this exhibition will impress both local and international visitors to the Ulster Museum and will greatly enrich our art exhibitions during this special year for tourism," he said.

"Five hundred years on, Leonardo's work continues to command both awe and admiration and we are grateful to the Royal Collection Trust for its partnership, enabling this special exhibition to come to Northern Ireland.

"Beyond a handful of drawings, most of Leonardo's great projects were never completed. His surviving drawings are therefore our main source of knowledge of his extraordinary achievements."

Martin Clayton, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at The Royal Library, Windsor Castle, said:

"The drawings by Leonardo at Windsor are the greatest works in the entire Royal Collection, and I have chosen for this exhibition ten of the finest of those drawings.

"They will give the people of Northern Ireland the opportunity to engage directly with one of the most fascinating figures in European culture."

Mr Clayton hopes the Ulster museum will enjoy record visitor figures similar to previous legs of the tour.

Anne Stewart, Curator of Fine Art, National Museums Northern Ireland, said: "The level of detail in Leonardo's drawings is quite remarkable and he was very much ahead of his time in his understanding of anatomy, hydraulics, cartography and engineering.

"Each drawing in this exhibition offers its own fascinating story and insight into this extraordinary talent and we are sure our visitors will be enthralled by it."

Admission to the exhibition is free, it will also be accompanied by a series of events including special tours, lectures, art sessions and sketching workshops.