A Treatise on Painting
by Leonardo da Vinci, translated by John Francis Rigaud
Of the Kind of Light proper for drawing from Relievos, or from Nature
4009432A Treatise on Painting — Of the Kind of Light proper for drawing from Relievos, or from NatureJohn Francis RigaudLeonardo da Vinci

Chap. CXC.Of the Kind of Light proper for drawing from Relievos, or from Nature.

Lights separated from the shadows with too much precision, have a very bad effect. In order, therefore, to avoid this inconvenience, if the object be in the open country, you need not let your figures be illumined by the sun; but may suppose some transparent clouds interposed, so that the sun not being visible, the termination of the shadows will be also imperceptible and soft.