Rolling mill for thin tin plate
With a note on watching ball-players' movements for painting
The page describes and draws a rolling mill for producing a thin, even sheet of tin: paired rollers cast from bell-metal for hardness are fitted on square iron cores so they will not twist, and turning against one another they flatten a plate about half a braccio wide. A separate note advises that painters can best observe lifelike human actions in players of ball games, above all at ball or pall-mall, as they contend with one another. The upper and lower pen figures show the rollers and their driving drum.
On this page
Rollers to flatten a tin plate
To make a thin, even tin plate, the rollers are cast in bell-metal for hardness and mounted on square iron cores so they cannot twist. Turning one against the other, they roll and flatten a sheet of tin about half a braccio wide.
Observing players' movements
Leonardo notes that the actions a painter needs are best seen in players, above all at ball or pall-mall, when they contend together, better than in any other setting. It is advice on where to study lively human movement for painting.