Proportional Body Measurement

A child of three years has half of their adult height.

It is notable that children at the age of three have exactly half of their future adult length, which many do not accept, unless it is demonstrated with examples and measurement. These observations are without doubt, that a child from three years to 24 or more years becomes not only as long but almost as broad as that of a fully grown structure, a mass that is hard to conceive from such a small lump as a child's body. Likewise, it's hard to imagine or conceive in their minds that a face made full-size would necessarily be four times larger. However, those who understand the doubling of a square can soon comprehend how these matters stand.

Why this is not well understood by some.

According to Lomazzo, the proportion of children's figures can sufficiently be put in three stages of age: namely, figures of four heads, five heads and six heads. In this progression it is generally noticed that the lower part, from the pubic area to the sole of the feet, never reaches half their body length, since it is only the middle proportion of adults. Yet, it is observed in growth that as children grow older, their lower parts can more accurately fit the adult proportions. Thus, in these examples, the navel of a child with four heads is the midpoint of its entire body length. But in that of five heads, the half is measured above downwards beneath the navel, incorporating as said, three heads of the body.

Translation Notes

- The term "heads" is used here to describe units of measurement often utilized in artistic proportions.

- "Proportie der Volwaffene" translates to "adult proportion."