53

Experimental proof of the existence of the pyramid of sight.

PERSPECTIVE.

Perspective comes in where judgment fails [as to the distance] in objects which diminish. The eye can never be a true judge for determining with exactitude how near one object is to another which is equal to it [in size], if the top of that other is on the level of the eye which sees them on that side, excepting by means of the vertical plane which is the standard and guide of perspective. Let n be the eye, e f the vertical plane above mentioned. Let a b c d be the three divisions, one below the other; if the lines a n and c n are of a given length and the eye n is in the centre, then a b will look as large as b c. c d is lower and farther off from n, therefore it will look smaller. And the same effect will appear in the three divisions of a face when the eye of the painter who is drawing it is on a level with the eye of the person he is painting.

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

52 * 54

I * III

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci

II: Linear Perspective.

. . .

General remarks on perspective.

40,

The elements of perspective--Of the Point.

42,

43,

44,

45,

Of the line.

47,

48,

The nature of the outline.

Definition of Perspective.

Experimental proof of the existence of the pyramid of sight.

52,

53,

The relations of the distance points to the vanishing point.

55,

How to measure the pyramid of vision.

The Production of pyramid of Vision.

58,

59,

60,

61,

62,

63,

Proof by experiment.

65,

General conclusions.

That the contrary is impossible.

A parallel case.

The function of the eye as explained by the camera obscura.

70,

The practice of perspective.

72,

. . .