658

Aphorisms.

As soon as the poet ceases to represent in words what exists in nature, he in fact ceases to resemble the painter; for if the poet, leaving such representation, proceeds to describe the flowery and flattering speech of the figure, which he wishes to make the speaker, he then is an orator and no longer a poet nor a painter. And if he speaks of the heavens he becomes an astrologer, and philosopher; and a theologian, if he discourses of nature or God. But, if he restricts himself to the description of objects, he would enter the lists against the painter, if with words he could satisfy the eye as the painter does.

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.
. . .
On chemical materials.
638,
639,
640,
641,
642,
643,
644,
645,
646,
647,
648,
649,
650
The relation of art and nature.
651,
652
Painting is superior to poetry.
653,
654
Painting is superior to sculpture.
655,
656
Aphorisms.
657,
658,
659
On the history of painting.
660,
661
The painter’s scope.
662