FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Art of Leonardo: 
The Da Vinci Code Deciphered

Sacramento, Calif. – April 30, 2004 – The Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Public Library Foundation will host an evening program where the facts behind the fiction in Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code will be examined.

Dan Brown's wildly popular but controversial novel The Da Vinci Code will be the focus of a lecture by Italian Renaissance art scholar Dr. Jeannine O'Grody at the Crest Theatre on Thursday, July 1, at 7 p.m.

O'Grody, who serves as the curator of European art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, has given sold-out lectures across the country, separating fact from fiction regarding Leonardo da Vinci's art as presented in Brown's runaway bestseller.

O’Grody will address Brown’s portrayal of Leonardo and the known facts about the cryptic artist. She will also discuss the symbolism found in many of the Renaissance master's art. O'Grody researched all major literature on Leonardo in preparing for her lecture, and she promises to answer some questions raised by the book while leaving the attendees with even more.

The Da Vinci Code is a murder mystery set in Paris that fuses together clues found in the artist's paintings with "historical" elements of the Christian church to draw a surprising conclusion.

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The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of Californian, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 264-5423 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

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Media Contact: LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti
Media: (916) 264-1963
Mobile : (916) 213-9402
Public: (916) 264-5423
216 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.crockerartmuseum.org