Bridge over the river Dora and the canal of Ivrea
A stone arched bridge in swirling water, with a note on a boat's buoyancy
A pale pen sketch shows a bridge of several low arches spanning a river, its piers set among swirling currents, with the far bank rising toward hills. A caption identifies the canal of Ivrea drawn off the river Dora and the mountains of Ivrea. A second note argues that a boat passing beneath the bridge adds no weight to it, because the boat weighs exactly as much as the water it displaces.
On this page
Multi-arched bridge over the river
A bridge of several low arches is drawn in light ink spanning the river, its piers standing in swirling water. The far bank rises toward hills. The line-work is summary and faint.
Canal of Ivrea drawn from the river Dora
A caption names the canal of Ivrea, taken off the river Dora, and the mountains of Ivrea, wooded on their northern side. It ties the sketch to a real waterway and its terrain.
A floating boat adds no load to the bridge
Leonardo notes that the great weight of a boat passing under the bridge is borne by the arch and adds no weight to the bridge itself, because the boat weighs exactly as much as the water it drives from its place. It is a clear statement of the principle of buoyancy.