The text discusses the differences in proportions between male and female figures, noting characteristics like the narrower chest and thicker thighs of females. It explains how a child's body proportions change as they age. The distinction between a hero and a common man is also outlined, with heroes having idealized features. The text concludes by referencing famous ancient statues that exemplify these proportional differences.
Method for Learning
The female chest is narrower than that of a man; however, she has wider hips and thicker thighs. Her upper arms and legs are also thicker, and her feet are smaller and narrower. Lastly, since she is fleshier and more supple than a man, her muscles appear less distinct, which makes her contours smoother and more flowing.
A newborn child is, at most, four heads in length, and as they age, their lower body grows until it finally makes up half their height. A child of four or five is about five heads tall, from head to foot, and the number of heads in length continues to increase in young people until they reach adulthood.
There should also be a distinction between a hero and a common man, as the latter should appear rougher; he should have a large head, short neck, high shoulders, heavy joints, and wide feet. In contrast, a hero is marked by a small head, a broad and muscular neck, wide shoulders, a prominent chest, and well-defined hips. His joints and limbs are firmly knitted, small and muscular, and the major muscles are pronounced, as seen in the works of the most skilled history painters.
We may also note examples of this difference in proportions in ancient statues, such as the Hercules of the Farnese Palace, the Meleager of Pichini, the Apollo at the Vatican, and the famous Venus known as the Medici, found in the palace of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in Florence: these four excellent pieces are regarded