The text discusses different figures representing various views and positions of feet and legs, mainly focusing on children's anatomy for artistic purposes. It explains proportions, foreshortening techniques, and methods to draw feet accurately in different positions, comparing them sometimes to adult feet for clarity. It emphasizes the importance of proportion and wraps up with a reference to a comparative table of proportions at the end of the book.
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Figure 3 depicts a foot viewed from the outside: the proportions are the same as those of a foot viewed from the inside, except that the foot viewed from the outside appears thicker than the one seen from the inside: here, figure 2, the height AB is greater than eF, figure 1. Figure 3 shows how to correctly size figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 shows a child's foot viewed from the front. The width of this foot, at its widest part, equals one part: here, DE equals CB or one part. The width of the lower leg, viewed from the front, equals three small quarters of a part: FG equals CH, three small quarters of a part. The largest width of the big toe equals a third of a part. Overall, everything said about the foot of an adult, except for the proportions we have just given, can apply to children's feet.
Figure 5 represents the mass of the foot viewed from the front, as in figure 4: this is how one should draw it first.
Figure 6 shows a child's foot when kneeling. The sole of the foot is visible; at the widest point, the sole equals one part: here, CD equals CB. The width of the narrowest point equals two small thirds of a part: ab equals Be. In this position, the lower leg is in foreshortening. The narrowest part of the lower leg describes a curve that seems to wrap the leg; the height of the heel represented by GA, figure 1, is shown by gf in figure 6, but seen in foreshortening; each of the lines that define the lower leg and heel, such as a b, b e, f e, etc., describe circles and envelop each other.
Figure 7 represents a child's foot while sitting and raising the leg. The proportions are the same as in figure 6: in this position, the leg is seen in foreshortening, and the foot obscures a large part of the leg.
Figures 8 and 9 show feet viewed from behind; in this position, you can see the full width of the heel; it is wide enough in e b, fig. 9, half a part. The lower leg equals three-quarters of a part. Fig. 9 is the mass of fig. 8.
Figure 10 depicts the foot and leg of a child kneeling, seen from the front: here, the whole leg is seen in foreshortening. The knee describes a segment of a circle that wraps the leg, and the lower leg describes another segment of a circle that wraps the foot. The foot is seen almost geometrically.
Figure 11 represents the foot of a reclining child: the same principle as figure 10. The leg is seen in foreshortening, the foot is seen geometrically and shortened.
Figure 12 depicts a foot viewed from below and fully shortened. The three parts of the foot are distinguished, marked here, a, b, c. To put this foot in perspective well, one can use the scale of plate 38; but if drawing this foot from life, one could compare each part with the others; for example, the length of the foot represented here by ed, with the width of the lower leg. The underside of the foot represented by ae, with de or with the width of the lower leg. Figure 13 represents a foot viewed in profile and from below.
We have placed here, figure 14, a human foot so that one can compare the foot of an adult with children's feet. The human foot represented, figure 14, is more elongated, the forms more pronounced; the malleoli or ankles stand out more; the muscles are visible, whereas the child's foot is round, short, wide, compared to its length; the malleoli are barely distinct, the muscles are not visible. This foot is fleshy, the skin fine and taut and finally the forms very unmarked.
See, at the end of the work, the general and comparative table of proportions.