555

On the choice of light for a picture.

OF THE TREATMENT OF THE LIGHTS.

First give a general shadow to the whole of that extended part which is away from the light. Then put in the half shadows and the strong shadows, comparing them with each other and, in the same way give the extended light in half tint, afterwards adding the half lights and the high lights, likewise comparing them together.

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

VII * X
Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
VIII: Botany for Painters and Elements of Landscape Painting.
. . .
535
On the choice of a position.
536,
537
The apparent size of figures in a picture.
538,
539
spectator.
540,
541,
542,
543,
544,
545,
546,
547
Gradations of light and shade.
548
On the choice of light for a picture.
549,
550,
551,
552,
553,
554,
555
The distribution of light and shade.
556,
557,
558,
559
The juxtaposition of light and shade.
560,
561
On the lighting of the background.
562,
563,
564,
565
On the lighting of white objects.
566
The methods of aerial.
567,
568,
569,
570
Of sketching figures and portraits.
571,
572
The position of the head.
573
Of the light on the face.
574,
575
. . .