511

On the construction of windows.

The different kinds of light afforded in cellars by various forms of windows. The least useful and the coldest is the window at a. The most useful, the lightest and warmest and most open to the sky is the window at b. The window at c is of medium utility.

[Footnote: From a reference to the notes on the right light for painting it becomes evident that the observations made on cellar-windows have a direct bearing on the construction of the studio-window. In the diagram b as well as in that under No. 510 the window-opening is reduced to a minimum, but only, it would seem, in order to emphasize the advantage of walls constructed on the plan there shown.]

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

VII * X
Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
VIII: Botany for Painters and Elements of Landscape Painting.
. . .
Industry and thoroughness the first conditions.
491,
492
The artist’s private life and choice of company.
493,
494
The distribution of time for studying.
495,
496,
497
On the productive power of minor artists.
498,
499,
500,
501
A caution against one-sided study.
502
How to acquire universality.
503,
504,
505,
506
Useful games and exercises.
507,
508
On the size of the studio.
509
On the construction of windows.
510,
511,
512
On the best light for painting.
513,
514,
515,
516,
517,
518,
519,
520
On various helps in preparing a picture.
521,
522,
523,
524,
525,
526,
527,
528,
529,
530
On the management of works.
531
. . .