The text discusses varied ideas on the ideal height and proportions of human figures in art, emphasizing a stature of eight heads for mature individuals. It critiques the excessive proportions used by Michelangelo and finds support in more balanced proportions favored by ancient masters like Pliny and Vitruvius. The author adopts this standard for both works and students, respecting historical perspectives while maintaining some autonomy in decision-making.
Regarding the varied ideas of the best height of human figures and the proportion of the parts, I could not remain indifferent, for both my works and my students; therefore, I have chosen the stature of eight heads or nine faces and one third for all adult persons, including Hercules, Venus, and Apollo, counting seven-eighths of the head height for the face.
Being charmed by this primary point, namely the stature of eight heads, I was influenced by the extreme length of Michelangelo, often measuring ten heads or more, sometimes even twelve, and the compressed shortness of just seven and a half heads which Gerard de Lairesse attributes to men; though he allows the length of eight heads for women. Adopting the stature of eight heads posed no difficulty for me; I was guided by esteemed ancient masters such as Pliny and Vitruvius, and more recently, by Karel van Mander and Giovanni Bolognese, who wished to pass on their choice and taste to descendants through writing; although I set my mind accordingly, in no way do I intend…
Unable to refrain from taking sides regarding the different ideas on the best height of human figures and the distribution of parts, whether for my works or my students, I have determined on the stature of eight heads or nine faces and one third; for all mature persons, including Hercules, Venus, and Apollo, considering the height of the head as one face. Delighted by this initial point, which is the principal one (namely the stature of eight heads), by mediating between the excessive height of Michelangelo, who often extends it to ten heads and sometimes even up to twelve, and the short size of seven and a half heads, attributed by Gerard de Lairesse to men, although he concedes the height of eight heads to women; I have found no difficulty determining the stature of eight heads, taking example from the ancient and very famous masters Pliny and Vitruvius, and subsequently Charles van Mander and Giovanni Bolognese, who wished to pass on their choice and taste to posterity; without intending to take sides or impose any law against those who preceded or followed the aforementioned grand masters, or against any other