The Intersection of Simple and Compound Shadows
Definitions and proofs on how shadows cast by one or more lights combine in darkness where they cross.
Two facing pages of Leonardo's science of shadow, filled with fans of ruled rays crossing between shadow-casting bodies and points of light. He reasons that the intersection n, being made of two compound derivative shadows, generates a compound and not a simple shadow, and argues that where simple shadows cross they never grow darker, since supreme darknesses added together are no darker than one. He defines a simple shadow as one that sees no light and a compound shadow as one lit by one or more lights, noting that intersections may double in quantity without doubling in darkness. On folio 243r, headed "Definitions," he traces how lights a and b each cast paired shadows whose crossings produce the intersections m and n plus simple shadows r c seen by neither light.
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Why intersection n is a compound shadow
The intersection n, being composed of two compound derivative shadows, generates a compound shadow rather than a simple one. Leonardo grounds this in earlier propositions: the crossing of simple derivative shadows never gains darkness, because all the deepest darknesses joined together are no darker than a single one.
Simple versus compound shadow, and doubling of darkness
The intersections i K double in quantity but not in darkness, whereas the intersections g h double in both. A simple shadow is defined as one that sees no luminous source, and a compound shadow as one lit by one or more luminous sources.
Two lights a and b generating intersections m and n
Light b generates the shadows t b and s b whose crossing makes intersection n, while light a generates s a and t a making intersection m. Uncovering both lights produces n and m together, plus two further simple shadows r c seen by neither light; a compound shadow's degree of darkness grows as the number of lights that see it shrinks.
