Precepts on apparent size, colour and sound judgement
Two note-strips: the perspective of size and colour, and rules for checking a picture.
Two mounted strips of close-written text, without diagrams, set out precepts on vision and on the practice of painting. The upper strip argues how apparent size depends on colour and distance: of two equal objects equally far off, the whiter looks larger and the darker smaller, while equal things at different distances appear unequal and unequal things can appear equal. The lower strip insists that such rules serve only to check and correct a finished figure, not to compose one, and that sound judgement grows from understanding, reason and good rules, themselves the daughters of good experience, 'the common mother of all the sciences and arts'.
On this page
Why a whiter object of equal size looks larger
Among things of equal size and equal distance from the eye, the whiter will show itself larger and the darker smaller. Equal things at unequal distances appear unequal, and unequal things at various distances can appear equal.
Rules serve to check a work, not to compose it
These rules are to be used only for reviewing figures, since every man errs in his first composition; check your work, correct the errors you find, and resolve never to repeat them. Using the rules while composing would only breed confusion and never let you finish.
Good judgement, daughter of good experience
Good judgement is born of good understanding, which derives from reason drawn from good rules, and good rules are the daughters of good experience, the common mother of all the sciences and arts. Holding these precepts in mind, one can recognize every disproportionate work, in perspective or in figures.