23

The function of the eye.

OF THE 10 ATTRIBUTES OF THE EYE, ALL CONCERNED IN PAINTING.

Painting is concerned with all the 10 attributes of sight; which are:—Darkness, Light, Solidity and Colour, Form and Position, Distance and Propinquity, Motion and Rest. This little work of mine will be a tissue [of the studies] of these attributes, reminding the painter of the rules and methods by which he should use his art to imitate all the works of Nature which adorn the world.

Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.

22 * 24

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci

I: Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting.

. . .

Admonition to readers.

The disorder in the MSS.

subjects..

General introductions to the book on Painting.

10,

11,

12,

The plan of the book on Painting.

14,

15,

16,

The use of the book on Painting.

Necessity of theoretical knowledge.

19,

The function of the eye.

21,

22,

23,

Variability of the eye.

Differences of perception by one eye and by both eyes.

26,

27,

28,

The comparative size of the image depends on the amount of light.

30,

31,

32,

33,

34,

35,

36,

37,

38,

. . .