Shadows Cast by Sunlight: Tree and Pyramid
Solar rays, a shadow-casting tree, and the shadow of a pyramid
The sheet develops Leonardo's theory of shadows cast by the sun. A bare tree stands in rays streaming from a radiant sun at upper left, illustrating a 'plant that casts a shadow,' while a note argues that a shadow never matches the body that produces it. Lower studies, lettered a b c d and a n S b, examine the shadow thrown by a pyramid whose parts are equidistant from the light. A small tower and a compass-bearing figure occupy the right margin.
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A shadow never matches the body that casts it
Leonardo asserts that the imprint of the shadow of any body of uniform thickness will never resemble the body from which it springs. The note sits beneath the tree, which is drawn against slanting rays from the sun at upper left.
Shadow of a pyramid equidistant from its light
Even when a pyramidal body has every part equally far from its light source, the part of the pyramid smaller than the illuminating light throws its shadow less far from its cause. The figures are lettered a b c d and a n S b.
A tree that casts a shadow
A leafless tree is drawn catching rays that stream from a radiant sun at upper left, serving as the exemplar of a 'plant that casts a shadow.' A small tower and a figure holding a compass appear in the right margin.