Real Activities

is what one imagines seeing before one's eyes. It makes them believe that the figures are walking, going, speaking, calling, fighting, hearing, seeing, thinking, and performing all other living actions done by animated humans. Indeed, painting brings a small sense of wonder, and it is almost more than natural magic, that from dead and inanimate material, human figures are made, which certainly are stationary yet may seem to move in various ways. It causes one to believe the silent speak, sing, and laugh. Yes, even those not acting and motionless seem to engage in powerful actions and workings: And those that remain in our vision yet seem to quickly vanish at the same moment. Those who consider this ability and ponder with what means and workings human beings usually carry out their actions and passions will easily admit that the contemplative knowledge of the Nature of Humans, Animalistic and Rational Soul, should at least be granted a small place in the study of human studies. Especially because in the art of painting, not only must the bodies and the agility of the limbs, as influenced by the influences exerted by the muscles, be shown; But also the earnestness and the thought of the thinking Soul, or inner Spirit, which possesses the consciousness of things, must necessarily be expressed by some recognisable signs that have that power. Just as the Creator desired, that for many reasons, previously indicated by us, the state of the Mind and the Passions, with zeal.

Translation Notes: "Schilder-Konst" translates to "art of painting" and "Mensch-kunde" refers to "human studies" or "figure studies."