Various Postures of Action.

To be performed or executed, the limbs must move from their natural and resting position. This transformation ensures that a more graceful appearance can be accomplished in the still figures; there must be a decent variation in the active limbs, at least a kind of readiness and ability for action must be perceived. There are also various degrees and observations to be taken regarding the grace of these positions; as it is noted when a person is fatigued, they will more easily rest on two legs than one, indeed sometimes resorting to a staff or walking stick as a third support. Thus, the quick standing or resting on one leg signifies freshness and tirelessness, as previously mentioned. When a person is weary from standing on one leg for a long time, they usually transfer some of their weight to the less burdened leg; and for this reason, one should not assign this posture to sculptures that are to appear weary and exhausted: nor to young children, nor old, weak, or sick people, unless necessity demands. A person standing for a long time is accustomed to regularly shifting their stand; swapping from right to left, and then back again. We can thus learn in passing that in all graceful postures of sculptures (whether they work with movement or by standing still gracefully), one side of the statue is never exactly the same as the other side, both in terms of its length and breadth, as well as its position. Whether such is in simple consideration.

Translation Notes

- "Mensch" translates as "person" or "human" rather than "man" to encompass all genders.

- "Beelden" is translated as "sculptures" or "statues" as it relates to figure design.