OF THE SPACES [SHOWING THE SKY] IN TREES THEMSELVES.

The spaces between the parts in the mass of trees, and the spaces

between the trees in the air, are, at great distances, invisible to

the eye; for, where it is an effort [even] to see the whole it is

most difficult to discern the parts.--But a confused mixture is the

result, partaking chiefly of the [hue] which predominates. The

spaces between the leaves consist of particles of illuminated air

which are very much smaller than the tree and are lost sight of

sooner than the tree; but it does not therefore follow that they are

not there. Hence, necessarily, a compounded [effect] is produced of

the sky and of the shadows of the tree in shade, which both together

strike the eye which sees them.

The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci — Volume 1 · 第 225 / 366 题