272

Combination of different colours in cast shadows.

That which casts the shadow does not face it, because the shadows are produced by the light which causes and surrounds the shadows. The shadow caused by the light e, which is yellow, has a blue tinge, because the shadow of the body a is cast upon the pavement at b, where the blue light falls; and the shadow produced by the light d, which is blue, will be yellow at c, because the yellow light falls there and the surrounding background to these shadows b c will, besides its natural colour, assume a hue compounded of yellow and blue, because it is lighted by the yellow light and by the blue light both at once.

Shadows of various colours, as affected by the lights falling on them. That light which causes the shadow does not face it.

[Footnote: In the original diagram we find in the circle egiallo” (yellow) and the cirle dazurro” (blue) and also under the circle of shadow to the left “giallo” is written and under that to the right “azurro”.

In the second diagram where four circles are placed in a row we find written, beginning at the left hand, “giallo” (yellow), “azurro” (blue), “verde” (green), “rosso” (red).]

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

IV * VI
Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
V: Theory of colours.
. . .
other.
263,
264,
265,
266,
267,
268,
269,
270,
271
Combination of different colours in cast shadows.
272
The effect of colours in the camera obscura.
273,
274
On the colours of derived shadows.
275,
276
On the nature of colours.
277,
278
On gradations in the depth of colours.
279,
280
On the reflection of colours.
281,
282,
283
On the use of dark and light colours in painting.
284,
285,
286
On the colours of the rainbow.
287,
288
. . .