The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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The boundaries of bodies are the least of all things. The  
proposition is proved to be true, because the boundary of a thing is  
a surface, which is not part of the body contained within that  
surface; nor is it part of the air surrounding that body, but is the  
medium interposted between the air and the body, as is proved in its  
place. But the lateral boundaries of these bodies is the line  
forming the boundary of the surface, which line is of invisible  
thickness. Wherefore O painter! do not surround your bodies with  
lines, and above all when representing objects smaller than nature;  
for not only will their external outlines become indistinct, but  
their parts will be invisible from distance.  
5
0.  
Definition of Perspective.  
[Drawing is based upon perspective, which is nothing else than a  
thorough knowledge of the function of the eye. And this function  
simply consists in receiving in a pyramid the forms and colours of  
all the objects placed before it. I say in a pyramid, because there  
is no object so small that it will not be larger than the spot where  
these pyramids are received into the eye. Therefore, if you extend  
the lines from the edges of each body as they converge you will  
bring them to a single point, and necessarily the said lines must  
form a pyramid.]  
5
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Page
51 52 53 54 55

Quick Jump
1 306 613 919 1225