'Death Before Loss of Freedom': the Goldfinch Emblem
An allegory of the caged goldfinch, with a note on sand in a current
In red chalk Leonardo sketches an allegory of freedom — a bird flying free, a striding hunter with his dog, and a bird of prey — captioned 'corta libertà' (short freedom). The accompanying maxim tells how the goldfinch gives poisonous spurge to its young once they are caged, choosing death before the loss of freedom. Lower on the sheet a separate note, keyed to a, observes how sand driven by two gentle currents of water settles into a notch.
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The goldfinch that chooses death over captivity
Under the motto 'short freedom,' the note relates that the goldfinch (calderigio) feeds poisonous spurge (tortomaglio) to its young when they are caged: death sooner than the loss of freedom.
Striding hunter with dog and birds
The upper half of the sheet carries a loose red-chalk scene: a striding cloaked figure with an arm outstretched, a bird in flight before him, and a low crouching hound, embodying the emblem of pursued freedom.
Sand carried by two gentle currents
A short note keyed to a states that the sand moved by two gentle currents of water is discharged into a notch (crenna).