Usefulness of Human Studies.

How the natural and incidental arrangement of the limbs and parts in the entire human body, according to all kinds of states and occurrences, could be depicted in a discernibly graceful and lively manner.

When we wish to investigate on what basis and for what reason painting and sculpture, once among the Greeks and Romans, were elevated to such high wisdom, we will truly find that it was only the science of human studies; which the ancient painters and sculptors united so precisely to the control of their pencil and chisel: of which the testimonies in the writers of that time, and especially in the visible proofs of countless beautiful statues cast in bronze, and carved from marble, have remained to this day; and among the preservers of the fine relics, and lovers of the arts, they were not only regarded as ancient relics of those times and peoples, but also as dignified and worthy examples of painting, and general human studies.

But just as many art practitioners will grant us that human studies must necessarily be understood by the painter, as far as it concerns the outward features, in the observation of the arrangement of the limbs and related muscles. And yet, some cannot easily tolerate that one wants to prescribe their definite rules, to interpret all external and internal parts, to the variable events of human actions and doings, even to the expression of passions and emotional drives to be learned; Therefore, it would not only be painted, but also speak, movingly.

The science of human studies alone has made the old art of painting famous.

Human studies were acknowledged by many but rejected in their own grounds.

Translation Notes:

The term 'Menschkunde' is translated as 'human studies' rather than anthropology or figure studies, as suggested for the context of this book.