What's on at Europe's Museums

Corbijn's Camera

Museo Fortuny, Venice, Italy

Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn made a name for himself taking pictures of stars for magazines such as "Rolling Stone," "Vogue," "Elle." Later, in the mid-1980s, he started making music videos, including clips for U2 and Depeche Mode. An exhibition in Venice is showing selections from his work from the early 1980s to the present with portraits of Naomi Campbell, Bono, Brian Ferry and Keith Richard. Corbijn's ability to capture his famous subjects, such as David Bowie and Joe Cocker, in natural, modest poses is arresting.

The exhibition runs until May 27, daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closed Mondays.

Da Vinci's Car

Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Florence, Italy

Besides being ahead of his time as an artist, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was also a ground-breaking scientist and technician. IT experts and engineers in Florence have constructed a car based on a sketch da Vinci made in his "Codex Atlanticus." The vehicle is made of wood, has three wheels and, thanks to clockwork-like cogs, can actually be driven several meters. Three models of da Vinci's car as well as reproductions of the original drawings are on show in the science museum.

"Leonardo's Automobile" will be open to the public until June 5, from Monday - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Living it up in the feared prison

Tower of London

Apparently, prison life in the Tower of London wasn't half as bad as generally thought. Documents and personal effects of infamous Tower inmates, such as Hitler deputy Rudolf Hess, are being shown in the historic jail. The numerous blue-blooded residents were able to carry on with their opulent lifestyles when they set up house in the Tower, where they had cooks and servants and threw banquets and bashes. Renaissance man Sir Walter Raleigh's wife even had a baby there during the 13 years King James I kept him locked up in the Tower.

The exhibition runs until Sept. 5. It is open Tuesday though Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday and Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Expressionist Acquisitions

Lentos Art Museum, Linz, Austria

Karl Schmidt-Rotluff's sculptures, drawings and graphics are on view in Linz. A year after it reopened, the modern and contemporary art museum is showing new Austrian and German expressionist acquisitions to its permanent collection.

The Schmidt-Rotluff retrospective is open until Sept. 2. Daily except Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday until 10 p.m.