The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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capable, in the nude, to know the anatomy of the sinews, bones,  
muscles and tendons so that, in their various movements and  
exertions, he may know which nerve or muscle is the cause of each  
movement and show those only as prominent and thickened, and not the  
others all over [the limb], as many do who, to seem great  
draughtsmen, draw their nude figures looking like wood, devoid of  
grace; so that you would think you were looking at a sack of walnuts  
rather than the human form, or a bundle of radishes rather than the  
muscles of figures.  
4
89.  
HOW IT IS NECESSARY TO A PAINTER THAT HE SHOULD KNOW THE  
INTRINSIC  
FORMS [STRUCTURE] OF MAN.  
The painter who is familiar with the nature of the sinews, muscles,  
and tendons, will know very well, in giving movement to a limb, how  
many and which sinews cause it; and which muscle, by swelling,  
causes the contraction of that sinew; and which sinews, expanded  
into the thinnest cartilage, surround and support the said muscle.  
Thus he will variously and constantly demonstrate the different  
muscles by means of the various attitudes of his figures, and will  
not do, as many who, in a variety of movements, still display the  
very same things [modelling] in the arms, back, breast and legs. And  
these things are not to be regarded as minor faults.  
347  


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Quick Jump
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