Insect-wing studies, calculations, and a caricatured figure
Two dragonflies and a butterfly, columns of arithmetic, and a stooping cloaked old man
A crowded working sheet that combines several unrelated subjects. Near the centre are two dragonfly-like insects drawn with long bodies and finely ruled, radiating wings, and a small butterfly appears at the upper left, together forming studies of insect wing structure. A stooping, heavily cloaked old man is caricatured at the lower right, while columns of numerals and short notes are scattered across the top and margins; this writing is not transcribed in this bundle, and further untranscribed text is present.
On this page
Dragonfly and butterfly wing studies
Two dragonfly-like insects are drawn near the centre of the sheet with elongated bodies and long, finely ruled wings shown radiating from the thorax, and a small butterfly with spread wings appears at the upper left. These are close observations of insect wings, of the kind Leonardo pursued in connection with the mechanics of flight.
Stooping cloaked old man
At the lower right a bent, heavily draped old man is caricatured leaning forward, drawn rapidly in pen. The loose folds of his cloak and his hunched posture are set down with quick, economical strokes.
Scattered calculations
Columns of numerals and short sums are set down at the top of the sheet and along the right margin, interspersed among the drawings. These figures are not transcribed in this bundle and are noted here only as calculation exercises.