This text provides instructions on drawing a child’s head from various angles, focusing on proportion and measurement. It describes how to determine proportions of facial features—such as the mouth, ears, and eyes—by comparing them to other parts like the nose and chin. The passage also gives instructions on using diagrams and recommends tools for achieving precision.
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The line that determines the opening of the mouth is one-third of the distance from the nose to the chin, or of the first section. Here, the opening of the mouth is one-third of Ca. The width of the mouth is equal to the width of the nose.
The ears are placed on the line that passes under the nose. The height of the ear is equal to one section: in this position, the width of the ear is equal to a large third of the height. This varies if the ear is more or less detached from the head and therefore more or less in foreshortening; one can, on the drawing board, compare the width of the ear (as seen) with the height.
The width of the neck, viewed frontally, is equal to two sections: its height is roughly equal to one-third of a section.
All forms of a child’s head, in general, are excessively rounded, which makes the indentations appear very deep.
3° Child's Head Viewed from Three Quarters.
The width of a child's head, viewed in regular three-quarters, is equivalent to three and a half sections or seven-eighths of the height. Here, fig. 3, it is a three-quarter view slightly smaller than the regular, but the difference is barely perceptible for the proportions of the head's width, which should appear slightly larger in this position than in the regular three-quarters. Here, AB is slightly more than the seven-eighths of CD.
The height of the head is divided into four equal sections. The height of the nose is equal to two-thirds of one of these sections, here, cd occupies two-thirds of cF. Between the two eyes, there is the width of one nose; here, ab is equal to en. The top of the eye's globe is found at the height of the nose's beginning. As for the width of the eye's globe, one must take a proportion between the profile view of the eye and the frontal view; besides, one compares with the width of the nose. The top of the eyebrows is located at the top of the second section; that is to say, at the height represented by F.
The ear is placed on the line below the nose. The distance from the ear to the cheek is equal to two sections plus a quarter: the distance fE is equal to CH. The height of the ear is equal to one section and the width of the ear, in this position, is in a proportion, taken between the ear of the head seen in profile and the ear of the head seen from the front; otherwise compared on the drawing board.
The opening of the mouth is placed at one-third of the distance from the nose to the chin; here, at one-third above Ce. In this position, the mouth appears as wide as the nose.
The width of the neck is equal to two sections, and its height is one-third of a section.
Figure 4 represents a child's head seen from the front and tilted forward. The demonstration of this figure is exactly the same as figs. 3, and 3, plate 14. We will therefore not repeat what we said, pages 72 and 73. It is the same for fig. 5, whose demonstration is the same as that of figs. 4 and 5 on plate 14 (page 73). These demonstrations must apply to figs. 7 and 8 of this plate, which are viewed in small three-quarters, one tilted to the left, and looking to our right; the other tilted to the right, looking to our left. It is advisable to also use black thread or silk for these last two, to properly delineate the operation lines.
Translation Notes
Ca, AB, CD, cF: References to specific points or sections on a diagram in the text.
Port-Crayon: A drawing tool or holder for chalk or other drawing materials, used for detailed comparisons or measurements.