Anatomy of the finger nerves; recipes for imitation branching
Which nerves spread the fingers, and how to coat branchings and fold patterned papers like chalcedony
A brief anatomical query heads the page under the word 'Anatomy': which nerves or cords of the hand spread and close the fingers and toes. The rest of the sheet gives craft recipes for making decorative imitation 'branchings,' coating a delicate branched form with bole, orpiment, white, black and azure, and finishing it in transparent layers to look like chalcedony in imitation of nature. A further recipe makes patterned papers of colored material, folded, bound, cut and let expand, then coated repeatedly with fixed transparent layers; a coral-like branching is drawn at the upper right and folded-paper figures at the lower right.
On this page
Nerves that spread and close the fingers and toes
Under the heading 'Anatomy,' Leonardo asks which nerves or cords of the hand are those that bring together and separate the fingers of the hand and the toes of the feet from one another.
Coating a fine branching with bole and colours
To coat a delicate branching form, clothe it with bole and orpiment and then a transparent layer, or with thin fixed white applied by dipping in winter and drawing out into cold air so it does not run. Bole dissolved in wine forms the branching, which is cooked and then clothed with black, burnt orpiment and azure.
Imitating nature: a chalcedony-like branching
It is better to imitate the natural: make the branching from strained bole and clothe it in transparent, white, black and finally a transparent white in the manner of chalcedony made from the milk of the wild arum. A coral-like branched form is drawn at the upper right.
Patterned papers by folding, cutting and coating
Papers of the material are made in various colors, wrapped at random, bound tight and cut across, then loosened and let expand while slightly re-moistened so they form no angles. Coated repeatedly with fixed transparent layers until every void is closed, they reveal all the degrees of coating from above, as shown in the margin figures.