THEORY

These figures might appear perfect in all their parts; however, they are so arranged in their proportion that one does not recognize anything that is entirely their own. Some ancient examples can be seen in Rome, such as statues of Jupiter and Mercury, as well as those of Apollo and Antinous, in the Vatican Gardens. There is also a modern example in the figure of Christ, which is found in Rome, in the Temple of Minerva: a work by the famous Michelangelo Buonarroti. That's all I had to say about the cube.

On the Circle and the Globe.

The circle is the second primitive element of the human body: it derives from the concept of unity, that is, from the point which is its center, producing the circle in planes, and the globe in bodies; unity and simplicity define its existence. It is from this perfect circle or globe that everything related to the feminine, or everything that is round, flexible, twisted, curved, etc. (1), originates; like the elevation of the back, the thickness of the upper parts of the body, such as the chest and shoulders, and the lower parts, like the belly, buttocks, everything that is fleshy and muscular, and all outer and inner contours, both convex and concave. The circle similarly contributes to

(1) From the circle, or perfect globe, comes all that is feminine and womanly, and everything fleshy, twisted, flexible, tortuous, curved, and bent. Plato asserts that no form is more beautiful than this. Cicero, on the Nature of the Gods, book I.

Translation Notes:

- "Paroître" is an old French form of "paraître," meaning "appear."

- "L'unité" refers to unity or oneness.

- The text discusses geometric forms as fundamental concepts in art and anatomy.