what purpose is in the mind of each; otherwise your art will not be

admirable.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMPOSITIONS.

Of painting battle pieces (601-603).

01.

OF THE WAY OF REPRESENTING A BATTLE.

First you must represent the smoke of artillery mingling in the air

with the dust and tossed up by the movement of horses and the

combatants. And this mixture you must express thus: The dust, being

a thing of earth, has weight; and although from its fineness it is

easily tossed up and mingles with the air, it nevertheless readily

falls again. It is the finest part that rises highest; hence that

part will be least seen and will look almost of the same colour as

the air. The higher the smoke mixed with the dust-laden air rises

towards a certain level, the more it will look like a dark cloud;

and it will be seen that at the top, where the smoke is more

separate from the dust, the smoke will assume a bluish tinge and the

dust will tend to its colour. This mixture of air, smoke and dust

will look much lighter on the side whence the light comes than on

425

The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete