LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Optics: Study of Shadows Pen and brown ink on paper About 1490–1492 The study of shadows – in this instance, the shadows created by a sphere illuminated through a large slit – was a recurrent feature of Leonardo’s scientific activity. Institut de France, Paris, Manuscript A bis, fol. 13v–14r 0 85 was a recu rent f a ure of his sci ntific activity. Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Optics: Reflection of a Parallel Beam on a Spherical Mirror; Convergence of Rays Near the Optical Axis; Construction of the Caustic Curve Pen and brown ink on paper About 1503–1506 These four pages from the Codex Arundel show Leonardo’s remarkable diagrams of the reflection on a spherical mirror of a parallel beam whose intersecting rays generate a curve known as the caustic. The British Library, London, Codex Arundel 263, fol. 86v–87r 0 86