The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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OF HELPING THE APPARENT RELIEF OF A PICTURE BY GIVING IT ARTIFICIAL  
LIGHT AND SHADE.  
To increase relief of a picture you may place, between your figure  
and the solid object on which its shadow falls, a line of bright  
light, dividing the figure from the object in shadow. And on the  
same object you shall represent two light parts which will surround  
the shadow cast upon the wall by the figure placed opposite [6]; and  
do this frequently with the limbs which you wish should stand out  
somewhat from the body they belong to; particularly when the arms  
cross the front of the breast show, between the shadow cast by the  
arms on the breast and the shadow on the arms themselves, a little  
light seeming to fall through a space between the breast and the  
arms; and the more you wish the arm to look detached from the breast  
the broader you must make the light; always contrive also to arrange  
the figures against the background in such a way as that the parts  
in shadow are against a light background and the illuminated  
portions against a dark background.  
[
Footnote 6: Compare the two diagrams under No. 565.]  
5
53.  
OF SITUATION.  
Remember [to note] the situation of your figures; for the light and  
394  


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392 393 394 395 396

Quick Jump
1 306 613 919 1225