OF SHADOWS.

Where a shadow ends in the light, note carefully where it is paler

or deeper and where it is more or less indistinct towards the light;

and, above all, in [painting] youthful figures I remind you not to

make the shadow end like a stone, because flesh has a certain

transparency, as may be seen by looking at a hand held between the

eye and the sun, which shines through it ruddy and bright. Place the

most highly coloured part between the light and shadow. And to see

what shadow tint is needed on the flesh, cast a shadow on it with

your finger, and according as you wish to see it lighter or darker

hold your finger nearer to or farther from your picture, and copy

that [shadow].

On the lighting of the background (562-565).

562.

The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci — Volume 1 · 第 302 / 366 题