This text discusses the concept of the "soul of art" as it relates to the portrayal of human figures. It also examines the idea of "animal spirits" within humans, explaining their role in sustaining life, and compares them to the mechanical operation of a clock. The text provides insights into how these concepts relate to human studies and art.
The Human Figures, Etc.
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The actions portrayed in human features should not remain hidden. All these elements, when used correctly in a painting, are commonly referred to as the "soul of art." It is appropriate, therefore, to examine the soul of a human in human studies for the benefit of painting.
Medics often speak much about the "animal spirits" of humans, differentiating them from the rational soul or the independent thinking that we possess. These "animal spirits," which we share with animals, are primarily composed of the finest particles of the blood. Through heat and fermentation, they become a sort of vapor, renewed and sustained by daily food and nourishment. There is a continual need for this refreshment, as these created spirits dissipate. They are restored by the fresh intake of food that adds new vapor to the blood. Thus, these animal spirits must also necessarily perish or cease when the blood, their home, is deprived of nourishment or corrupted from within. This causes the entire human form to cease living or moving, as a clock stops when its gears and weights are broken or removed. There is a particular relationship between these animal spirits within us.
Translation Notes:
"Dierlijke Geest" is translated here as "animal spirits," a term used historically to describe certain vital essences thought to control bodily functions.