The text discusses how certain figures, like Hercules, are prepared and positioned to execute powerful strikes effectively. There is an emphasis on how different actions and passions can be portrayed according to the nature of events, especially in artworks. The text also mentions how a famous painter struggled with accurately conveying the actions and passions of figures within a historical context.
Various Postures of Action.
This is also naturally acquired through habit; however, everyone wants to learn from what we are saying. For you see that to perform a good strike, this figure is sufficiently prepared, and structured in such a way that the execution will surely proceed efficiently. Just as Hercules pulled his body backward, he can swiftly bring the strike forward, applying a great deal of force. It’s also observed that in certain well-understood positions, delivering a horizontal strike would not be easily carried out; and that for this reason, any kind of blow requires its own special preparation in order to be truly effective and ensure a stable execution.
CHAPTER IX.
About the Actions and Actual Abilities of Figures, and how these, according to the nature of Events, under the expression of all manner of Passions and Emotional Processes, will be portrayed.
A Certain famous Painter dealt with the Figures that displayed their proper Actions and Passions to the purpose of the Painter, and the contents of the History were not well expressed, as was said, that they were doubly influenced. Surely, since everything was completely discussed.