arer in story work better than
pictures of the life; for beauty and good favour is like clear truth,
which is not shadowed with the light nor made to be obscured, as a
picture a little shadowed may be borne withal for the rounding of it,
but so greatly smutted or Darkened as some use Disgrace it, and in like
truth ill told, if a very well favoured woman show in a place where is
great shadow, yet showeth she lovely not because of the shadow but
because of her sweet favour consisting in the line or proportion, even
that little which the light scarcely showeth greatly pleaseth, proving
the Desire to see more.

_Nicholas Hilliard._

CLX

The lights cast from small windows also present a strong contrast of
light and shadow, more especially if the chamber lit by them is large;
and this is not good to use in painting.

_Leonardo._

CLXI

When you are drawing from nature the light should be from the north, so
that it may not vary; and if it is from the south keep the window
covered with a curtain so that though the sun shine upon it all day long
the light will undergo no change. The elevation of the light should be
such that each body casts a shadow on the ground which is of the same
length as its height.

_Leonardo._

CLXII

Above all let the figures that you paint have sufficient light and from
above, that is, all living persons whom you paint, for the people whom
you see in the streets are all lighted from above; and I would have you
know that you have no acquaintance so intimate but that if the light
fell on him from below you would find it difficult to recognise him.

_Leonardo._

CLXIII

If by accident it should happen, that when drawing or copying in
chapels, or colouring in other unfavourable places, you cannot have the
light on your left hand, or in your usual manner, be sure to give relief
to your figures or design according to the arrangement of the windows
which you find in these places, which have to give you light, and thus
accommodating yourself to the light on which side soever it may be, give
the proper lights and shadows. Or if it were to happen that the light
should enter or shine right opposite or full in your face, make your
lights and shades accordingly; or if the light should be favourable at a
window larger than the others in the above-mentioned places, adopt
always the best light, and try to understand and follow it carefully,
because, wanting this, your work would be without r