Flowers. Method for soldering.
From the line given at a b, draw an equilateral triangle, a d b, and at the middle of its base draw a line down from the upper angle; then divide it into 5 equal parts. Place one of the points [of the compass] on the fourth part at point e, and draw your circle [such] that it touches the ends of the given line and note that this line enters the said circle 5 times[…]
METHOD FOR SOLDERING TOGETHER A LEAD COVERING ON AN OPEN ROOF.
Proceed as follows: when you have completed the last archway of your building, lay a brick covering which must be perfectly flat; […]
Manuscripts from A to M, Paris, Institut de France.
These manuscripts, most of which are leather bound or in parchment of varied formats, are dated from 1487 to 1508. Many cover topics which are more scientific than technical. They were housed at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan from 1609 to 1674, then classified from A to M by the mathematician Giovanni Battista Venturi who scrutinised them from a scientific perspective. Like the Codex Atlanticus, they were seized as a war reparation by General Bonaparte when he rode victorious into Milan and sent to the Institut National. But when it was decided to return property seized in 1815, major collections were the prime focus meaning that the small manuscripts at the Institut were quite simply overlooked.
Pencil and ink (drawing)
Paris, Institut de France, Ms.B, f. 14 r.
These violets observed and drawn with a botanist’s eye, owe the form and silkiness of their petals to the white highlights and the shadows. The bouquet is framed by a geometrical problem on the left and an illustrated technical note.
