18 METHOD FOR LEARNING

Half a fortieth, so that it surpasses the length of the leg bone by a whole fortieth. This rule established, according to this author, if you want to create a figure of eight heads, take for the head one-eighth of the height that you want to give to the entire figure. If you want to make one of seven heads, take a seventh; for one of nine heads, take a ninth, & for one of ten heads, take a tenth. As for the size of the face, divide the entire height of the figure into ten parts, of which you will give one to the face; as in the first three figures you have a seventh, an eighth & a ninth for the whole head; the surplus will be for the hair. Regarding the one of ten heads, since there is nothing left for the hair (because then the face & the head are equally a tenth part of the entire figure); here is what Albert Durer teaches for this case.

Having made your figure of ten heads, which will have no summit, you will take a ninth of the entire figure, & starting from the chin, you'll find your head increased by what is more in a ninth than in a tenth; this increase will be for the summit of the head where the hair is. You will similarly enhance the one of nine heads by enlarging the ninth part where the face is through the means of an eighth of the height of the figure, & the excess of this eighth part on the previous ninth will serve to increase the head, which will then be found stronger. By this means, you can make figures that will keep the same height, though in different proportions.

Translation Notes:

- "fortieth" refers to a proportion of the figure's size.

- "heads" refers to the unit of measurement used in artistic anatomy to describe proportions.