"The painters first intention is to make a flat surface show a body in relief, extruding from its flatness; and that which in this art exceeds all others, that which deserves greatest praise is this investigation, or better the crown of science, born from shadows and light or, if you will, from ciaro and scuro. Consequently he who flees shadows flees the glory of art conferred by noble minds, acquiring among the ignorant mob that desires nothing more than the beauty of colours, forgetting altogether the beauty and wonder of showing the flat thing in relief."   Quotes 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l 9 l 10 l 11 l 12 l 13 l 14 l 15 l 16 l 17 l 18

Read about Leonardo's life and works at GreatItalians.com