The text discusses the virtue of actions and how they captivate viewers, quoting Albertus Durer on the value of necessity. It highlights that in children's growth, strict adherence to adult proportions is unnecessary because the focus is primarily on the upper body parts during early development. It explains the divisions of the body into different segments, particularly for children, indicating that children's body proportions differ from adults as they grow.
The Human Figures.
An action can be so virtuous that it wholly captivates the observer, obliging them to praise rather than to disdain. For an intelligent person can easily perceive where, and in what situation, the artistic freedom has been used advantageously, or where reason has been inactive.
Albertus Durer used to say: what is beyond necessity gives no prosperity. Indeed, if this great Master had properly considered the lesson, it would have been even more commendable of him to have acted than merely to have spoken.
In children, one should not adhere strictly to the proposed proportions; Notice that the perfection of these parts does not completely conform to the moderate proportion of adults. Because it is seen that the first growth in children's age seems to require more work on the head, chest, and abdomen to first complete them, or at least to bring them to a closer step of perfection than the other parts, which only serve for walking and work. Thus, we should observe that a child is only five heads or even less in length. Many even set it at four heads when people want to notice them in their utmost youth. These divisions are into eight equal parts: namely, 2 for the head, 2 for the chest and abdomen down to the navel, 2 from the navel just above the knee, and from there two to under the sole of the foot. The five given heads are generally divided in such a way that the entire upper body to the shamefulness three, and the rest has two heads. And not withstanding that nature here still owes much to the maturity.
Translation Notes:
- The term "Schilderkundige Vryheyd" translates to "artistic freedom," referring to the liberty artists use in their works.
- "Schaamchelheyd" is translated as "shamefulness," indicating modesty or a sense of the human figure needing coverage.