The Codex Huygens is a Renaissance manuscript for a treatise on painting closely related to Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). Its author has been identified as the North Italian artist Carlo Urbino (ca. 1510/20–after 1585), who must have been familiar with Leonardo's notes before they were dispersed. Some of the drawings are faithful copies of now lost originals by Leonardo. Others, like the Vitruvian Man, are related to Leonardo but independent interpretations in their own right. The extant manuscript, which appears to be only a fragment, includes five sections (books or regole).
The name of the codex goes back to its former owner, Constantijn Huygens (1628–1697), secretary to King William III of England. Huygens acquired the manuscript in 1690, firmly believing it to be an autograph work by Leonardo.
This digital facsimile was created in conjunction with the exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Treasures from the Biblioteca Reale, Turin, on view October 25, 2013, through February 2, 2014, organized by Per Rumberg, Associate Curator of Drawings and Prints.
"Prima figura del disegno trovato dall' [uo]mo"
Codex Huygens, fol. 1
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"Seconda figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 2
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"Terza figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 3
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"Quarta figura del primo libro"
Codex Huygens, fol. 4
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"Primo"
Codex Huygens, fol. 5
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"Primi"
Codex Huygens, fol. 6
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"Quinta figura et principio di moto et ultima del primo libro"
Codex Huygens, fol. 7
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"Prima figura de'moti, de'linee ridutta al corpo et al perfetto della forma humana, seguendo la Prima Regola de'lineamenti guidati della verità et semplicità del compasso"
Codex Huygens, fol. 8
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Standing figure. Verso: Two heads
Codex Huygens, fol. 9
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"Natura cogno[sci]bile(?) d'huomo. Dilla e[ccelle]nza della frabrica (sic) del corpo"
Codex Huygens, fol. 10
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"Libro secondo. Regola II del disegno. De'moti naturali"
Codex Huygens, fol. 11
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"Prima figura del moto"
Codex Huygens, fol. 12
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"Secondo figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 13
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"Terza figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 14
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"Quarta figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 15
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Seated figure, "Angolo ottuso"
Codex Huygens, fol. 16
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Sitting figure, "Angolo acuto"
Codex Huygens, fol. 17
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Sitting figure, "Angolo retto"
Codex Huygens, fol. 18
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Seated figure, "Angolo retto" [hip] and "Retto" [knee and foot]
Codex Huygens, fol. 19
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Codex Huygens, fol. 19v
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"Ultima figura del sedere"
Codex Huygens, fol. 20
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"Secondo moto. Prima figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 21
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"Secondo moto. Seconda figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 22
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"Secondo moto. Terza figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 23
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"Secondo moto. Quarta figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 24
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Frontal figure, bending
Codex Huygens, fol. 25
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Frontal figure in two positions
Codex Huygens, fol. 26
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"Dezima figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 27
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Figure bending laterally
Codex Huygens, fol. 28
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"Undezima figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 29
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"Terzo moto. Prima figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 30
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"Libro terzo, nel quale si tratta del transferire de' corpi per tre modi. Regola terza"
Codex Huygens, fol. 31
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"Prima figura del transferire d'un perfetto nell' altro perfetto. Cap. I"
Codex Huygens, fol. 32
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"Prima transferire d'un perfetto in altro perfetto"
Codex Huygens, fol. 33
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"Seconda figura del transferire. Cap. II." Verso: "Terza figura del transferire. Cap. III"
Codex Huygens, fol. 34
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"Quarta figura del transferire del secondo modo. Cap. IIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 35
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"Quinta figura del secondo modo del transferire. Cap. V" and "Stesta (sic) figura del secondo modo del transferire. Cap. V"
Codex Huygens, fol. 35v
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"Settima figura del secondo modo del transferire. Cap. VII" and "Ottava figura del decondo modo del transferire. Cap VI (sic).
Codex Huygens, fol. 36
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"Nona figura del secondo modo del transferire" and "Dezima figura del secondo modo del transferire. Cap. VII (sic)"
Codex Huygens, fol. 36v
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"Undezima figura del terzo modo del transferire. Cap. VIII (sic)"
Codex Huygens, fol. 37
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"Duodezima figura et ultima del terzo modo del transferire. Cap. VIIII (sic).
Codex Huygens, fol. 38
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"Libro Quarto. Il quarto libro della universal simetria del corpo umano et delle perfette proportioni del corpo"
Codex Huygens, fol. 38v
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"Quarto della simetria. Ordine di natura et sua proportione. Capo I
Codex Huygens, fol. 39
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"Capo II"
Codex Huygens, fol. 39v
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"Quarto della simetria. Capo III"
Codex Huygens, fol. 40
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"Quarto della simetria. Capo III (sic)."
Codex Huygens, fol. 41
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"Libro quarto. Capo IIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 41v
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"Quarto della simetria. Capo V."
Codex Huygens, fol. 42
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"Le proportioni secondo l'ordine degli antichi"
Codex Huygens, fol. 42v
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"Quarto della simetria. Capo VI."
Codex Huygens, fol. 43
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"Libro quarto. Capo VII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 43v
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"QLibro quarto. Capo VII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 44
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"Libro quarto. Capo VIIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 44v
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"Regola di formare varie proportioni di donna sopra alle medesime paralelle, formando la parte dinanzi et di diero"
Codex Huygens, fol. 45
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Codex Huygens, fol. 45v
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"Quarto della simetria. Capo XII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 46
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"Regola per formare diverse proportioni di donne con el compasso. Prima figura. A. Capo XIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 47
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"Seconda figura. B. Capo XIIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 47v
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"Terza figura. Capo XV."
Codex Huygens, fol. 48
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"Quarta figura. Capo XVI"
Codex Huygens, fol. 48v
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"Quinta figura. Capo XVII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 49
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"Sesta figura. Capo XVIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 49v
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"Figura settima. Capo XVIIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 50
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"Figura ottava. Capo XX"
Codex Huygens, fol. 50v
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"Nona figura. Capo XXI."
Codex Huygens, fol. 51
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"Figura dezima. Capo XXII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 51v
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"Figura undezima. Capo XXIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 52
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"Figura duodezima. Capo XXIIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 52v
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Bust of a man in front view, the head turned in profile
Codex Huygens, fol. 53
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Head in profile
Codex Huygens, fol. 54
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Codex Huygens, fol. 54v
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Proportions of the chest and the arms in front view
Codex Huygens, fol. 55
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Head in profile
Codex Huygens, fol. 56
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Proportions of the arm
Codex Huygens, fol. 57
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Proportions of the arm, extended and bent
Codex Huygens, fol. 58
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Proportions of the hand
Codex Huygens, fol. 59
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Proportions of the arm, extended and bent
Codex Huygens, fol. 60
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Proportions of the extended arm in relation to various other parts of the human body
Codex Huygens, fol. 61
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Proportions of the foot, seen from above
Codex Huygens, fol. 62
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Proportions of the foot in profile
Codex Huygens, fol. 63
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Proportions of the foot in profile
Codex Huygens, fol. 64
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Proportions of the leg in profile; proportions of the foot in profile as compared to its width and to the width of the hand
Codex Huygens, fol. 65
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Proportions of the leg in front view
Codex Huygens, fol. 66
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Proportions of the whole figure
Codex Huygens, fol. 67
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Equilibration of the standing figure and proportions of the chest
Codex Huygens, fol. 68
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Human figure inscribed within geometric shapes
Codex Huygens, fol. 69
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Trunk of a horse, seen directly from below
Codex Huygens, fol. 70
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Horse seen directly from above
Codex Huygens, fol. 71
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Horse, minus the head, in front elevation, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 72
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Horse, minus the head, in rear elevation, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 73
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Off fore-leg and near fore-leg of a horse in profile, both raised and bent
Codex Huygens, fol. 74
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Upper half: Head of a horse in profile, turned to the left, and front elevation of the same head; Lower half: Head of a horse in profile, turned to the right, and front elevation of the same head
Codex Huygens, fol. 75
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Near fore-leg and off fore-leg of a horse, both in profile and extended
Codex Huygens, fol. 76
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Near fore-leg and shoulder of a horse in profile, raised and bent, with the hoof upturned
Codex Huygens, fol. 77
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Inside the off hind-leg of a horse; Off fore-leg of a horse standing in profile; Off fore-leg of a horse in profile, bent and raised
Codex Huygens, fol. 78
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Horse, minus the head, in front and rear elevation, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 79
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Hind-quarter of a horse in profile, the near hind-leg slightly raised and bent
Codex Huygens, fol. 80
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Horse in rear elevation, drawn twice at different scales
Codex Huygens, fol. 81
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Horse in profile, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 82
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Horse in profile, standing; Hind-quarter of the same horse in profile, with the near hind-leg bent
Codex Huygens, fol. 83
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Horse in profile, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 84
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Horse in profile, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 85
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Horse in profile, standing
Codex Huygens, fol. 86
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"Libro quinto della prospettiva, nel quale si tratta le deversità del collocamento delle cose sotto la ragione degli angoli causati dell' occhio et delle cose sotto a tre vederi principali."
Codex Huygens, fol. 87
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Analysis of the function of the eye and of the visual process in general
Codex Huygens, fol. 87v
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"Del sole. Per l'ombra prima dimostratione."
Codex Huygens, fol. 88
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Hurried sketches without text
Codex Huygens, fol. 88v
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"Della luna. Per l'ombra seconda dimostratione"
Codex Huygens, fol. 89
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Codex Huygens, fol. 89v
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"Del foco. Terza per l'ombra dimostratione"
Codex Huygens, fol. 90
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Codex Huygens, fol. 90v
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Several sketches concerning the movement of the sun, particularly the phenomenon that it appears larger as it approaches the horizon.
Codex Huygens, fol. 91
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Three sketches concerning optical problems
Codex Huygens, fol. 91v
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Rubricated "Quinto della prospettiva."
Codex Huygens, fol. 92
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Rubricated "Libro quinto della prospettiva"
Codex Huygens, fol. 92v
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"Dell'occhio et della forza degli angoli. Angulo Primo, cap. I."
Codex Huygens, fol. 93
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Conclusion of text from recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 93v
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"Dell'occhio et della forza degli angoli. Cap. II"
Codex Huygens, fol. 94
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"Dell'occhio. Natura et forza degli angoli, sotto i quali si vedono le cose sotto a tre vedute: retta, superiore, et inferiore. Cap. III."
Codex Huygens, fol. 95
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 95v
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"Della distanzia nel vedere delle grandezze de' corpi rette all'orizonte sopra al pian naturale et supperiori et inferiori all'occhio."
Codex Huygens, fol. 96
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Conclusion of text on recto, and chapter entitled "Della prima distanzia e retto vedere. Cap. V"
Codex Huygens, fol. 96v
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"Della distanzia nel vedere delle grandezze de' corpi supperiori et inferiori all'occhio."
Codex Huygens, fol. 97
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 97v
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"Tutta la [i]nteligenza et arte della prospettiva si contiene sotto a' queste tre vedute, la prima retta all' orizonte, la seconda supperiore, la terza interiore. Cap. VII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 98
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Conclusion of text on recto; next chapter entitled "Della seconda veduta. Cap. VIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 98v
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Conclusion of chapter VIII. Beginning and illustration of the following chapter entitled "Della terza veduta. Cap. VIIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 99
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 99v
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"Della prospecttiva sotto ..."
Codex Huygens, fol. 100
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Conclusion of text on recto; draft of "Regola di cav[a]re la facia et parte di dietro del corpo dal pro[filo]"
Codex Huygens, fol. 100v
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"Prima figura del primo vedere. Dal profilo si cava la verita della facia et scu[r]to. Cap. I."
Codex Huygens, fol. 101
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 101v
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"Seconda figura sotto al primo vedere. Cap. II."
Codex Huygens, fol. 102
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 102v
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"Terza figura sotto al primo vedere. Cap. III."
Codex Huygens, fol. 103
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 103v
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"Quarta figura sotto al primo vedere. Cap. IIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 104
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 104v
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"Quinta figura. Cap. V."
Codex Huygens, fol. 105
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 105v
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"Della prospettiva sesta [originally 'prima'] figura sotto al primo vedere et primo angolo. Cp VI"
Codex Huygens, fol. 106
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"Settima [originally 'seconda'] figura sotto al primo et natur[al] vedere. Si dimostra la ragion del diminuir de' corpi secondo distanzia. Cp VII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 107
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Codex Huygens, fol. 107v
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"Dell'ordine del collocar delle istoric sopra al piano naturale sotto al primo vedere. Ultima figura"
Codex Huygens, fol. 108
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"Lib. V nel diminuir de' corpi secondo distanzia. Cp VI"
Codex Huygens, fol. 109
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"Prima figura sotto al secondo angulo et vedere superiore."
Codex Huygens, fol. 110
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"Cp. II"
Codex Huygens, fol. 110v
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"Prima figura sotto al secondo superior vedere et secondo angolo. Cp. I."
Codex Huygens, fol. 111
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Continuation of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 111v
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Continuation and conclusion of fol. 111, "Prima figura sotto al secondo superior vedere et secondo angolo. Cp. I"
Codex Huygens, fol. 112
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Codex Huygens, fol. 112v
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"Secondo figura sotto al secondo vedere, angolo superiore. Cp. II."
Codex Huygens, fol. 113
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 113v
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"Terza figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. Cp. III."
Codex Huygens, fol. 114
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, folo 114v
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"Quarta figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. ... Cp. IIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 115
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 115v
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"Quinta figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. ... Cp. V."
Codex Huygens, fol. 116
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 116v
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"Sesta figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. ... Cp. VI."
Codex Huygens, fol. 117
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 117v
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"Sestima [sic] [corrected from 'Sesta'; originally 'Prima'] figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. Si dimostra la ragione del diminuir de'corpi secondo distanzia et le sue parti. Cp. VII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 118
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"Del ordine del collocar delle istorie. Ottava [corrected from 'Sesta'; originally possibly 'Seconda'] figura sotto al secondo vedere superiore. Cp. VIII."
Codex Huygens, fol. 119
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"Prima figura del terzo vedere inferiore et angulo. Cp. I."
Codex Huygens, fol. 120
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 120v
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"Prima figura del terzo vedere inferiore. Cp. I"
Codex Huygens, fol. 121
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"Seconda figura del terzo vedere inferiore. Cp. II"
Codex Huygens, fol. 122
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"Terza figura sotto all'inferiore vedere. Cp. III."
Codex Huygens, fol. 123
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 123v
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"Quarta figura sotto al terzo vedere inferiore in ginochione. Cp. IIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 124
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"Quarta figura sotto al terzo vedere inferiore. Cp. IIII"
Codex Huygens, fol. 125
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"Quinta figura del terzo vedere inferiore. Cp. V"
Codex Huygens, fol. 126
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Seated woman observed by a "moving beholder, Cp. V."
Codex Huygens, fol. 127
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Conclusion of text on recto
Codex Huygens, fol. 127v
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"Il fine"
Codex Huygens, fol. 128
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