The kinds and species of shadow: primitive and derivative
A systematic classification of shadow, its sources and its variation
Opening the fifth book, Leonardo classifies shadow into three kinds by its source: from a particular light such as sun, moon or flame; from an aperture like a door or window that admits much sky; and from the universal light of an overcast hemisphere. He then divides shadow into two species, the primitive shadow joined to the shadowy body and the derivative shadow that flows from it, stating that the primitive is single and never varies. A further chapter divides the primitive shadow into simple, which faces a dark place and so is murky, and composite, which faces a place lit with various colours; small cylinder diagrams and marginal chapter-letters a-e accompany the definitions.
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Three kinds of shadow by their source (a)
There are three kinds of shadow: one born of a particular light such as the sun, moon or flame; a second deriving from a door, window or other opening through which a great part of the sky is seen; and a third arising from a universal light, such as the light of our hemisphere when it is without sun.
Two species: primitive and derivative shadow (b, c)
The species of shadow are two: primitive, which is joined to the shadowy body, and derivative, which flows from the primitive. The primitive shadow is one and single and never varies, its boundaries seeing the edge of the luminous body and the edges of the lit part of the body where it is joined.
The primitive shadow varies as simple or composite (d)
The primitive shadow varies in two ways. Simple shadow faces a dark place and is therefore murky; composite shadow sees a place illuminated with various colours, so that it mingles with the images of the colours of the objects set opposite it.
Cylinder diagrams of shaded bodies
Two small pen diagrams of shaded cylindrical bodies are set into the margins beside the definitions, illustrating the primitive shadow and its simple and composite variation.