The text discusses the importance of understanding perspective, light, shadow, and anatomy in art. It emphasizes how these elements contribute to accurate and realistic representation in drawing and painting. Mastery of these skills saves time and effort and ensures the truth and precision of the artwork.
Principles
An artist must understand the layout of a figure or group to express foreshortening and the diminishing appearance of bodies as they recede from the viewer's eye. Additionally, they must bring intelligence to the handling of light and shadow relative to the planes they occupy. The works of great masters clearly show that they had made a serious study of this science and of anatomy, which they regarded as the fundamental basis of drawing. Indeed, when both are mastered, one saves a lot of time and effort, and nothing is left to chance. Everything drawn from nature carries a sense of truth and precision that is immediately striking.
Perspective remains necessary for correctly layering contours, preventing errors, and ensuring that the overall effect is accurate. Even with well-understood effects and carefully observed lights and shadows, without this, a figure will always appear ridiculous and lack the intended action. This applies to groups of several figures as well. In regard to finishing or effect, perspective generally determines the strength of shadows on foreground elements, gradually weakening as the bodies producing them move away. Cast shadows follow the same principle and must be accompanied by an understanding of the effects of light, known as chiaroscuro.
Knowledge of anatomy is indispensable for the young artist; it helps to create
Translation Notes
Chiaroscuro: A technique employed in visual arts to represent light and shadow as they define three-dimensional objects.