About Drawing. Tenth Lesson.

When a student fully understands what we have covered so far, it's time for them to demonstrate their skills in drawing and to show, using this proverbial expression, if they are "firm on their feet." They will be given a low relief, meaning a slightly raised sculpture, of two figures, one dressed and the other nude, to determine if they have grasped everything we've noted about sketches, composition, and the curve of the lines according to the diversity of objects. However, they must take care not to place their model too close or too far from the light source and to maintain a balanced distance so that the shadows are strong and reasonable; as the distance from the light increases, the shadows appear weaker and more uncertain. Secondly, the student should not be too close to the object; they must be at an adequate distance, meaning they must clearly distinguish the positions, especially the shadows of the eyes, nose, mouth, and other essential parts, without being too far. Thirdly, the object should be placed at such a height that the eyes of the figures are level with their own, as we will elaborate on later. Fourthly, they must ensure that the light only enters through a single window, as mild daylight allows better observation of shadows compared to overly bright light, which can amplify disparities and make them unclear. It would be unnecessary to instruct a young student on how to hold their sketchpad or atlas on which they draw, as they see it practiced by others daily, and as illustrated in the example at the beginning of our twelfth lesson. After they have copied the low relief discussed, we will proceed.

Translation Notes:

Low relief: A sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material.