On painting, and why thunder outlasts its cause
The painter as orator of figures; lightning seen at once, thunder rolling as a wave
Under a red-chalk heading 'Painting', Leonardo compares the painter who cannot handle his figures to an orator who does not know how to use his words. A note in pen below then asks why the thunder lasts longer than the time of its cause, answering that the flash is seen immediately by the eye while the thunder travels in time like a wave and makes most noise where it is most impeded. The heading and first paragraph are in red chalk, the second paragraph in brown ink.
On this page
The painter who cannot work his figures
Men and words are made things; and you, painter, not knowing how to handle your figures, are like the orator who does not know how to use his words. Figures are to the painter what words are to the speaker.
Why thunder lasts longer than its cause
The thunder lasts longer than the time of its cause because the flash is seen immediately by the eye, whereas the thunder moves in time in the manner of a wave, making the most noise where it is most impeded.