This text describes the visual changes in the representation of the eye from different perspectives, such as full face, profile, and three-quarters view. It explains how the visibility and shape of the iris and pupil change with these angles, and how eyelid thickness affects the appearance of the eye. The document also discusses measurements and proportions needed to accurately depict these variations in drawings.
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If we then turn the eye to make it appear in profile, the iris will become the iris labeled 'e'. In this position, only half is visible. Now, if the eye turns slightly toward us, it will be seen in three-quarters view; then the iris, instead of appearing round, becomes an ellipse or a circle seen in perspective. The iris marked 'e' corresponds to this eye. Viewed from above, it is the iris 'e' that should be preserved. The iris 'e' belongs to an eye in lost profile; therefore, the pupil or hole of the eye is not visible. Normally, the upper eyelid covers a bit of the top of the iris, with the bottom of the iris touching the lower eyelid. As a result, the vertical opening of the eye is smaller than the diameter of the iris. The more the iris is covered by the upper eyelid, the softer the gaze, and when it is entirely uncovered, the eye appears bold and fierce. In this case, figure 1, a, b is smaller than c, d.
When the eye is viewed in profile, the eye globe is, relative to the observer, in the position represented by figure 3. In this position, the outer angle or meeting of the eyelids is at point 1, center of the eye globe. When the eye is seen in profile and looking straight ahead, the opening, represented by ᴅ ᴍ, height of the iris, is equal to ½ g. Just as in the full face view, the top of the iris should be slightly covered by the upper eyelid. The pupil occupies one-third of the height of the iris. In a profile or three-quarter view, the thickness of the eyelid impacts the appearance on the eye globe. Here, in figure 3, the thickness of the eyelid is represented by the space m. n. If the line drawing the contour of the eyelid were on the line drawing the contour of the globe, this thickness would not be felt: the same applies for the lower eyelid. Therefore, when starting to draw, to account for these thicknesses, one must indicate the eye globe with a light line, as shown in all the eyes represented in this plate, and when the eye is drawn, this thickness of the globe should not appear.
In the eye viewed from the front, this thickness is seen in foreshortening. The eyelashes attached to these thicknesses are directed towards the center of the eye. Here, figure 4, they all converge to point 1. The lashes of the upper eyelid curve upwards and those of the lower eyelid downwards.
Proportions compared of the eye viewed from different positions.
Figure 7 represents an eye viewed from the front. If one divides the horizontal eye diameter into four equal parts and draws lines perpendicular to this diameter from those points of division, then between these verticals CA, DB, one draws eyes in different positions and of a diameter equal to the first, one will see that the width of the eye seen in profile is exactly half the width of the eye viewed from the front. As in figure 4, it is exactly half the diameter 1 lh of figure 7. The diameter c d of the eye viewed in small three-quarters view, figure 5, does not fully occupy three-quarters of the diameter lh, figure 7: diameter fg of the eye, viewed in regular three-quarters view, figure 6, occupies just three-quarters of the diameter 1 lh, figure 7, and diameter km of the eye viewed in lost profile, figure 8, appearing consequently smaller than the eye seen in profile, is equal to a quarter of the diameter 1 lh of the eye seen in front view, figure 7, and half the diameter of the eye seen in profile, figure 4.
When the eye is viewed from the front, the iris and pupil are viewed geometrically and present the figure of a small circle inscribed in a larger one: but, as soon as the eye is viewed in three-quarter profile, the iris and pupil appear narrower, though always as long, and begin to take the form of an ellipse. Figure 5 represents an eye seen in small three-quarters view; in this position, the iris appears much more to the left; the pupil, instead of appearing in the middle of the iris, as it is actually, also appears more to the left. To the right, much more white of the eye globe can be seen, while to the left none can be seen; for the iris seems to touch the caruncle that starts to appear, and the thickness of the eyelid edges appears much larger from the side than in the eye
Translation Notes:
- "profile-perdu" is translated as "lost profile," indicating a view where parts are obscured.
- References to figures (e.g., figure 1, 3, 4, etc.) denote diagrams illustrating the discussed concepts, common in art instruction books.