The text discusses the importance of understanding proportions in creating human figures and warns against relying too heavily on measuring instruments like the compass. The author advocates for observing natural proportions and behaviors rather than strict measurements. Additionally, it mentions older theories on the shortening of limbs in older age, suggesting this may be due to drying out of supportive tissues rather than bones shrinking.
The Human Figures.
... remain standing; But rather behave as previously advised by us. Nevertheless, we must note how one might lose track when creating figures with 10 and 11 heads, and that one forsakes the Proportion and Life for measuring with the Compass and seeks the foolish approval of some masters who wish to lower their standards. A good student of human studies must keep the Compass in view, and rarely in hand; and those who measure much might easily forget themselves and their life. But why all this Measuring? Everyone surely knows how entirely wrong it is to judge someone’s malformed members. We thus strive to gain general knowledge of Proportions to then form the basis of human studies, to the extent that we initially intended, offering enough material to move on to the study and examination of the makeup and function of human limbs. Wherein considerations of proportion, facial features, movement, and the positions of faces in both random and Natural postures intertwine, falling naturally into place. In addition, we assert based on previous studies that some old thinkers believe that in terms of proportion, the limbs of older people are somewhat shorter than they would have been in their prime. As for us, we do not believe that the bones shrink and can become smaller; but rather that the tendons, cartilage, and soft tissues, which cover the joints, can dry out and thus affect the limbs...
F 4Translation Notes:
- "Menschkunde" is translated as "human studies."
- "Passer" refers to a Compass used for measuring proportions.