22

The function of the eye.

Here [in the eye] forms, here colours, here the character of every part of the universe are concentrated to a point; and that point is so marvellous a thing ... Oh! marvellous, O stupendous Necessity—by thy laws thou dost compel every effect to be the direct result of its cause, by the shortest path. These [indeed] are miracles;...

In so small a space it can be reproduced and rearranged in its whole expanse. Describe in your anatomy what proportion there is between the diameters of all the images in the eye and the distance from them of the crystalline lens.

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

21 * 23
Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
I: Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting.
. . .
The preparation of the MSS. for publication.
2
Admonition to readers.
3
The disorder in the MSS.
4
subjects..
5,
6,
7,
8
General introductions to the book on Painting.
9,
10,
11,
12,
13
The plan of the book on Painting.
14,
15,
16,
17
The use of the book on Painting.
18
Necessity of theoretical knowledge.
19,
20
The function of the eye.
21,
22,
23,
24
Variability of the eye.
25
Differences of perception by one eye and by both eyes.
26,
27,
28,
29
The comparative size of the image depends on the amount of light.
30,
31,
32,
33,
34,
35,
36,
37,
38,
39
. . .