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LDE ENGL1721


A Treatise on Painting, by Leonardo da Vinci
1721
Senex and Taylor, London


Chapter

LDE T0414   CID269  Rules for managing the Lights of your Figures

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The Light must be cast on your Figures, in such a manner, as may be suitable to the natural Place in which they are supposed to be seen: that is, if they be illumined by the Sun, let their Shadows be deep, and their Lights wide and diffused; and let the Shadows of all the Bodies around, be seen projected on the Ground: If the Figures be exposed in a thick cloudy Air, make no great Difference between the Parts Illumined, and those Shadowed; nor let any Sha dows be seen at their Feet: If they be supposed in a Chamber, let their Lights, and Shadows be very bold, and well distinguished from each other, and let their Shadows appear on the Ground; but if the Windows have Shutters, before them, and the Walls be supposed White, then the Difference between their Lights, and Shadows, must be very little, and but just perceptible: if they receive their Light from the Fire, their illumined Parts must be reddish, and vivid, and the Shadows very deep, and those again, which they project against the Walls, or on the Ground, bold, and their Extremities somewhat abrupt; and let these Shadows be still inlarged, as they are further removed from the Body: If one side of any Figure be illumined by the Air, and the other, at the same time, by the Fire, let the former be brighter than the other, and let the latter appear reddish, and nearly of the Colour of the Fire. Observe, in the last place, that your Figures be generally illumined with a strong Light, coming from on high, and especially the Faces, which you Design from the Life; the Persons whom you see in the Streets, receiving all their Light from above: and know, that there is no Man, with whose Face you are so well acquainted, as that, did he receive the Light from below, 'twou'd not puzle you to know him.