The Fifth Part

The Definition of the Perfection of the Horse.

The horse is the most perfect in beauty and other perfections of all irrational animals. After previously showing methods of designing it with the compass and its proportions, I will now give some guidelines for depicting its beauty and grace: not to design a workhorse, but a horse of parade.

As shown in my previous example of the horse's outlines, it is necessary to portray the dry and lean head, well proportioned to its muscles and nerves, the mouth not very large, the ears upright and pointed, the nostrils open, the eyes spirited and vigilant, the neck long and broad with folds and reflections, curved like a swan’s neck, with the mane hanging, the shoulders broad, the belly not too fat, round and polished haunches, a long and flowing tail, and lean and nervous legs and thighs, with the knee joints nicely formed, and not too thick but delicate.

For the horse seen from the front, it is necessary to depict a graceful chest, the breast broad and well crossed, the legs slightly open and correctly placed.

Definition of the Perfections of the Horse.

The horse is the most perfect in beauty and other perfections among all irrational animals. That is why after previously showing the methods to draw it with the compass and its proportions.

I shall here give some principles to represent it with its beauty and grace, not as a draft horse, but as a parade horse.

Having done the sketches of the horse, as shown previously in my first example, with the compass or other methods as follows, it is necessary to define the head dry and lean, well proportioned with muscles, veins & nerves on the cheeks & jaws, the mouth a little big, ears upright & pointed, eyes bold & vigilant, the neck long & broad with folds & reflections, curved like a swan's neck, mane hanging, shoulders wide enough, belly not too fat, thighs round & polished, tail long & flowing, legs & thighs lean & nervous, & the knees' nerves & physiognomy not too thick but delicate.

For the horse, seen from the front, it is necessary to have a graceful head, the chest broad & well crossed, legs a bit open & correctly placed.

Short Story of the Perfection of Horses.

The horse, next to man, is the most perfect in beauty and surpasses all other irrational animals. Therefore, I'll here give a sensible representation of the horse with its beauty and grace: so I will also give some princely methods to draw it with ease / with long flowing mane.

Therefore, after having given a first example, as I have previously shown in my own writings, it is necessary to define the shape of the face wide and large / with well proportioned muscles and veins / and then the tail large and long like the swan's neck / the mane hanging, the limbs strong and agile / the lower legs and sinews lean.

To complete this task, the head should be first drawn with a graceful and longer neck / the eyes lively and vigilant / the shoulders wide / the breast must not be broad / the back’s unfold the extended hår / the hind quarters elegant / and the front legs and hind legs must not be too stout / but simply and naturally formed.

A Short Description of the Perfections of the Horse

The horse, besides humans, stands preeminent in its beauty and surpasses all other untamed animals in this regard. Its aesthetic beauty comes from balancing all characteristics like strength, yet soft expression. These features allow it a dignified form over others.

One must picture it accurately with a dry and broader head, jaw well-defined, eyes alive and watchful, ears straight and lovely, neck long yet curved, and its posture stately. The limbs muscled and lean, back wide, shoulders defined, and the mane should hang slightly. The hindquarters should be muscular yet smooth, hooves strongly spaced apart, showing balance.

When portraying a horse, one should make sure the head is slightly forward / and the chest broad and gracefully formed / the hooves shown from the front must be evenly set with fine expressions, and the muscles well portrayed.