Ordinary and proportional compasses
Red-chalk study of two drawing compasses set side by side
In red chalk (sanguigna) Leonardo draws two compasses side by side, captioned as an ordinary compass and a compass of proportion. Each has a broad ringed head and long tapering legs; the right-hand instrument carries extra pivots and rings that adapt it for taking proportional divisions. No continuous text was transcribed for this page.
On this page
Ordinary and proportional compasses
Two compasses are shown together: a plain drawing compass at left and a proportional compass at right, the latter fitted with additional joints and rings. Both are rendered with ringed heads and long pointed legs.