4012120A Treatise on Painting — Of Back-groundsJohn Francis RigaudLeonardo da Vinci

Chap. CCX.Of Back-grounds.

To give a great effect to figures, you must oppose to a light one a dark ground, and to a dark figure a light ground, contrasting white with black, and black with white. In general, all contraries give a particular force and brilliancy of effect by their opposition[1].