The text addresses the importance of controlling desires for the virtuous mind, especially in painting, where truth is depicted through images. It stresses the necessity of understanding the interaction with others and the need for artistic lines to capture life's passions in artwork. The text also highlights the significance of freedom in action for depicting images and maintaining balance, emphasizing the exploration of practical knowledge for skill development.
TO THE READER
The virtuous mind, and the teaching of the divine law, knows how to control the desires that visibly afflict its body. This is certainly crucial in the art of painting, where truth requires such passions to be depicted in images. It is customary to think of virtues in the mind more than in images like portraits, actions, and historical truth. If art is indeed a foremost mirror of soul and body, what do you think, discreet reader? Shouldn't we gather a multitude of observations in such an art, capturing all vital passions through the artistic lines depicted in scenes?
This knowledge is also necessary in daily interaction with our fellow humans, so that we know with whom we deal and in what disposition of mind. We must recognize that the consideration of portraits, and the sweeping observation of nature and genealogy must somehow come together here. Truly, whoever allows this will surely understand that to gain praise and honor in the art of painting, all these observations must create a great figure in this art.
The freedom in action is essential for properly selecting and placing images. Just as without actions, things appear lifeless and dead, so are they awkwardly depicted without valid actions. And those awkwardly placed cannot be appropriate for good actions, and thus cannot be effectively used. We must then understand how and by which means people work technically and extensively. How to maintain their resilience, move, and direct, while consistently keeping their body well balanced. Also, it comes about that some people have greater ability and skill to do things forcibly than others. This knowledge, essential for daily practice and work in people’s states that want to maintain their abilities not worse than wild beasts, must be explored. Through this general knowledge.