This text provides guidelines for artists on creating a side view of a face using geometric and proportional techniques. It describes step-by-step instructions for drawing an oval with lines, dividing it into facial segments such as the forehead and chin, and ensuring the proportions of features like the nose and lips match a side profile. The importance of accurately demonstrating the contours of the face is emphasized.
Artistic Facial Depiction
This refers to the artistic trait without shadows) that can show a face directly from the front.
Second Example, showing the Side Depiction of a Head.
Again, create an Oval ABCD, as done before: also draw two Diameters like AC and BD. And having placed a straight Line FE at the same height next to it, it demonstrates the same four areas: the Upper Head, the Forehead, the Nose, and the area in front of the Mouth and Chin; but not continuing, because the face is to be depicted from the side. The Nose must protrude from the contour of the Oval as much as the bottom of the Chin would extend past the Oval in the completed face shown here. The Lips should occupy only a quarter of the Nose's part, and distribute the remaining details according to these smaller divisions with Lines indicated in the Example. The Eye here must be half as wide as shown in the frontal face depiction. The inner angle of the Ear should be about a fifth of the Midline AC, and the Length of the Nose should be like here at F. The circumference of the back of the Head or Jaw can be very aptly demonstrated when the Diameter BD, is extended backward until GD is equal with GA. And then write out from point A in D, and further as the Outline Sketch, primarily indicating the complete face; and you have all the
Translation Notes
1. "Tronie" is a term for a facial depiction or portrait-like image, often used in historic Dutch art reference contexts.