121

Definition of the nature of shadows.

Shadow is the diminution alike of light and of darkness, and stands between darkness and light.

A shadow may be infinitely dark, and also of infinite degrees of absence of darkness.

The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form.

The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow.

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

II * IV
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
. . .