/ · The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

125

Of the various kinds of shadows..

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHADOW THAT IS INSEPARABLE FROM A BODY AND A CAST SHADOW?

An inseparable shadow is that which is never absent from the illuminated body. As, for instance a ball, which so long as it is in the light always has one side in shadow which never leaves it for any movement or change of position in the ball. A separate shadow may be and may not be produced by the body itself. Suppose the ball to be one braccia distant from a wall with a light on the opposite side of it; this light will throw upon the wall exactly as broad a shadow as is to be seen on the side of the ball that is turned towards the wall. That portion of the cast shadow will not be visible when the light is below the ball and the shadow is thrown up towards the sky and finding no obstruction on its way is lost.

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

124 * 126
II * IV
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Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
III: Six books on Light and Shade.
. . .
Prolegomena.
110
Scheme of the books on Light and shade.
111
Different principles and plans of treatment.
112,
113,
114,
115,
116
Different sorts of light.
117,
118
Definition of the nature of shadows.
119,
120,
121,
122
Of the various kinds of shadows..
123,
124,
125
Of the various kinds of light.
126,
127
General remarks.
128,
129
On the nature of light.
130,
131
The difference between light and lustre.
132,
133,
134,
135
The relations of luminous to illuminated bodies.
136
Experiments on the relation of light and shadow within a room.
137,
138,
139,
140
Light and shadow with regard to the position of the eye.
141,
142,
143,
144,
145
. . .