591

The selection of forms.

OF UNDULATING MOVEMENTS AND EQUIPOISE IN FIGURES AND OTHER ANIMALS.

When representing a human figure or some graceful animal, be careful to avoid a wooden stiffness; that is to say make them move with equipoise and balance so as not to look like a piece of wood; but those you want to represent as strong you must not make so, excepting in the turn of the head.

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

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci

VIII: Botany for Painters and Elements of Landscape Painting.

. . .

Of sketching figures and portraits.

571,

The position of the head.

Of the light on the face.

574,

575,

General suggestions for historical pictures.

577,

578,

579,

580,

How to represent the differences of age and sex.

582,

Of representing the emotions.

Of representing imaginary animals.

The selection of forms.

586,

587,

588,

589,

590,

How to pose figures.

Of appropriate gestures.

593,

594,

595,

596,

597,

598,

599,

Of painting battle pieces.

601,

602,

Of depicting night-scenes.

Of depicting a tempest.

605,

Of representing the deluge.

607,

608,

Of depicting natural phenomena.

610,

. . .