The text discusses the proportions of the human body, as reported by Felibien, saying both men and women are eight heads or ten faces high. It describes divisions of the body from the head to the feet and emphasizes that human proportions align with those described by Vitruvius, marking the spread of arms being equal to one's height. This general understanding of proportions continues to be relevant today.
THE DRAWING.
Proportions reported by Felibien.
Felibien, in his Discussions on the Lives of Painters, explains that the most excellent artists have identified only one measure for heights, for both men and women, being eight heads or ten faces, and consequently, the most beautiful proportion of the human body is ten equal parts, or ten faces.
The first part encompasses the space from the top of the head to the end of the nose; the second, from the nose to the top of the stomach or shoulder; the third, from there to the hollow of the chest; the fourth, from that point to the navel; the fifth, from the navel to the lower abdomen, where the midpoint of the body is found. From the lower abdomen to the knees, there are two parts, and from the knees to the soles of the feet, there are three.
The hand is the length of one face: and from the joint of the hand to that of the shoulder there are three faces: from one shoulder to the other there are two; so, when a man stretches his arms, the width from one hand to the other is equal to the length from the top of the head to the soles of the feet. Almost all authors who have written about human proportions agree on this point, and they align with Vitruvius, that a man standing with arms extended touches the four sides of a perfect square.
Proportions generally followed today. Plates 7, 8 & 9.
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Translation Notes: "Faces" refers to sections or divisions of the body similar to units of measurement. "Vitruvius" refers to a Roman architect known for his writings on proportion.