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fol. 6r [fol. 5v blank] unpublished 'Chap 6th. Of Truth of Light' (equivalent 3.343f)
Chapter III in Part II, Section II: 'Of Truth of Chiaroscuro' (3.303)
[Slip inserted: Mod. Painters / Vol. I. / --------- / Pt. 2. Sec. 2. Chap. 3 / Page 171 - Text#23#.]
the carving of a surface - Here then is the place for all that confusion &
mystery of execution by which ^ {only, as} I have shown the detail of Nature
can <only> be represented with truth .
On The Dark side no details or forms are seen . <but it is full of gradations
5 of lig> it being commonly a mass of pale . transparent grey .It is
the first part of an object which disappears as it retires . losing itself
in the general greys of distance. The half light disappears next to
it. & both . blending with each other and melting into every variety
of tone - form in extreme distance . a confused & unintelligible mass .
10 The shadow . next to the high light . is the most conspicuous part
of an object . and the part which has most shape . When it crosses
high or half light . ^ {or where these cross it} it gives <the chief outlines> {10}
{those}by{11} which{12 &c.} the form
of an object is ^ {chiefly} known. and{9} the{1} most{2} decided{&c.} & sharpest
outlines
in nature{8}. *Go out on a sunny day . and stand with your back
15 to the sun - 10 feet from the thick trunk of a tree which has
groups of boughs running across it & sent out from it . You
cannot trace the boughs - much less their twigs - you cannot even
<see the shapes> follow the outline of the leaves. But you can distinctly
see the shadow of every bough & twig - and leaf - on the trunk behind.
20 and if you retire backwards. you will come to a point where {<the>} you can<not>
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MW