The Manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, Vol. 2

This page contains a facsimile of Leonardo da Vinci's manuscript folio 4r, accompanied by a printed scholarly transcription at the bottom. The manuscript features mirror writing and sketches related to pyrotechnics or festival apparatus.

Manuscript Facsimile

Leonardo's text is written in mirror script from right to left. Transcribed here in standard left-to-right reading order for modern accessibility.

On April 28th, I received from Marchesino 103 lire and [above?] 12 Marchesino Stanga was a prominent official and secretary to Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.

Anatomical/Mechanical study of decorative patterns and figures

white and light-blue fabrics woven in checkerboard to make an apparatus fabrics drawn in a. b. c. d. m e f g. h. i. k to make a canopy original: "cielo" — literally "sky," often referring to a ceiling or decorative canopy in Renaissance theater. for an apparatus

This ball, when thrown, goes out and arrives whole; the reeds, wrapped at the tip with linen cloth, being lit, are thrust inside and set fire to the powder that surrounds the loose tow original: "stopa" — coarse, unrefined fibers of flax or hemp used as tinder or padding. soaked in turpentine; the rest of the bundle is made of hemp soaked in turpentine and linseed oil and pitch original: "pegola" — a thick, sticky substance used for waterproofing and as a combustible.; and let the wrappings be loose so that the flames have air, for otherwise you will achieve nothing.

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Printed Transcription

— On April 28th, I received from Marchesino 103 lire and [above?] 12.
— White and light-blue fabrics woven in checkerboard to make an apparatus.
— Fabrics drawn in a. b. c. d. e f g. h. i. k to make a canopy for an apparatus.
— This ball, when thrown, goes out and arrives whole; the reeds, wrapped at the tip with linen cloth, being lit, are thrust inside and set fire to the powder that surrounds the loose tow soaked in turpentine; the rest of the bundle is made of hemp soaked in turpentine and linseed oil and pitch; and let the wrappings be loose so that the flames have air, for otherwise you will achieve nothing.

1. This Marchesino was likely the secretary of the Duke of Milan (see J. P. Richter, Leonardo, p. 18, London, 1880). — One sees, by the example of this passage, that Leonardo da Vinci sometimes wrote in the ordinary direction from left to right, exactly the same as from right to left referring to his famous mirror writing.
2. The Writings of Leonardo da Vinci, p. 23-24.