Overlapping Trees, and Wind Seen in Leaves and Meadows
The eye downwind sees pale leaf-backs; a diagram of trees a-e losing their transparency
The text continues the account of overlapping trees: in tree c only half remains see-through, part blocked by tree d and that in turn by tree e, until at a little distance the bodily transparency of the trees is wholly lost. A small pen diagram at the top of the sheet shows a row of circles labelled e, d, c, b, a with lines converging to the eye. Leonardo then turns to wind, noting that an eye placed downwind sees only the pale undersides of leaves, so trees and meadows look much brighter viewed from downwind than into the wind, and that slender-branched trees such as willows bend most. A short passage struck through by the scribe is also visible on the sheet and is not part of the transcription.
On this page
Diagram of trees a-e diminishing in transparency
A row of circles across the top of the page represents trees labelled, from the left, e, d, c, b, a, with straight lines running from them to converge at the eye. It illustrates how each nearer tree blocks the see-through gaps of the one behind, so that transparency is progressively lost. The lettering matches the trees a, b, c, d, e discussed in the surrounding text.
Downwind the eye sees only the pale undersides of leaves
An eye set behind the wind's flight never sees the face of any leaf, only its reverse, except the leaves of branches that face into the wind beneath it, or firm-stalked leaves such as the laurel's. Because each leaf is paler on its back than on its face, trees and meadows look much clearer seen from downwind than into the wind. Looked at against the oncoming wind, leaves appear shadowy, their curling edges shading toward the middle.
Slender-branched trees like willows bend most in wind
The crown of a tree is bent most by the buffeting of the wind when its branches are the thinnest and longest, as in willows and the like.
Canceled passage (struck through)
A short passage on the sheet has been struck through by the scribe. Its content is not included in the bundle transcription and is not translated here.