The 4th International Laboratory for the History of Science
Art, Science and Techniques of Drafting in the Renaissance

SESSION 3
Vinci, 30-31 May 2001

The theory and practice of vision in Leonardo and his followers
Coordinator: Prof. Carlo Pedretti

This session addresses the problem of Leonardo's sustained study and application of perspective throughout some forty years of his active life, from c. 1478 to about 1518. As early as 1490 he states to have compiled a treatise on the subject. This is probably the one that he later expanded to form the basis for an apograph acquired by Cellini in France in 1542. Both the original and the copy are lost. As yet another, somewhat neglected aspect of Leonardo's legacy, this is to be considered for its bearing on tradition as well as in view of Leonardo's suggested experimentation on the subject, which resulted in the construction of models for didactic purposes and drafting aid.

Bibliography

WEDNESDAY, 30 MAY 2001 (introduction to the items to be discussed)

Carlo Pedretti, General introduction to the issues to be discussed: Leonardo's serpent-like mazzocchio to Delacroix's "dessiner par le boules"

Antonio Natali, Did young Leonardo bungle or master perspective?

Rocco Sinisgalli, The golden section in Leonardo's Vitruvian Man

Carlo Pedretti, Leonardo's training in Verrocchio's workshop

Carlo Pedretti, Leonardo in Milan. First codifications and experimentation. Enveloping space (the "Virgin of the Rocks", the Sala delle Asse) and two-point perspective vs. accelerated perspective (the "Last Supper")

PROTOCOL OF WEDNESDAY, 30 MAY 2001

THURSDAY, 31 MAY 2001 (introduction to the items to be discussed)

Carlo Pedretti, Leonardo, 1500-1505: cartography to mural painting as "cinemascope"

Carlo Pedretti, Leonardo: "Prospettiva composta" to final codification, 1508-1515. Caustic of reflection, curvilinear perspective, "di sotto in su", the compass for the solution of the Problem of Alhazen and anamorphosis (Cristoforo Sorte, Codex Huygens to Niceron)

Vladimiro Valerio, Leonardo's horizon: the Book of Painting

Filippo Camerota, Leonardo's "Ovale", the "ellipsograph" and other drafting instruments

PROTOCOL OF WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2001