THE CRYSTAL ORB

SOME scholars think the orb held in Christ’s hand, which symbolises the Earth, is not very well-painted.

Walter Isaacson, Leonardo’s biographer, says: ‘In one respect [the orb] is rendered with beautiful scientific precision, but Leonardo failed to paint the distortion that would occur when looking through a solid, clear orb at objects that are not touching it.’

For example, a deep fold in the blue gown continues to run behind the orb without being distorted. As Leonardo was a great master of science, why didn’t he follow the principles of refracted light?