Curvilinear figures of equal area drawn from a circle
Circle constructions, a spoked wheel, a halving series and reckonings
A sheet of geometric studies dominated by large circle constructions with inscribed triangles, squares and rhombi, opening with Leonardo's aim to make from a single circle infinite varieties of curvilinear figures of equal capacity. A spoked wheel is drawn at the upper left, and the Ambrosiana catalogues the sheet under circular motion and rotary rebound. To the right runs a descending halving series (512, 256, 128 down to 2), and an inverted block of numerical reckonings occupies the lower area.
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Infinite curvilinear figures of equal area from one circle
Leonardo states his aim: to make from a single circle infinite varieties of curvilinear figures, all of equal capacity. This is the program behind the large circle constructions and the inscribed rectilinear figures on the sheet.
Descending halving series, 512 to 2
A column of numbers set transversally on the right descends by continual halving: 512, 256, 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2. Each term is half the one above it, a geometric progression written out alongside the figures.
Spoked wheel and circular-motion study
A small spoked wheel is drawn in dark ink at the upper left of the sheet, beside the large compass-drawn circles. The Ambrosiana catalogues the leaf under themes of circular motion and rotary rebound.
Column of reckonings (sheet inverted)
Turned upside down relative to the main figures, a block of arithmetical reckonings is set out in aligned columns of figures. It records calculations rather than continuous prose.