The text discusses the significance of the Venus Aphrodite statue, which serves as an ideal model for studying human form and beauty. It emphasizes the concept of balance in the human figure, which affects movement and posture. The text notes how variations in weight distribution lead to different postures and movements.
Theory
Regarding female statues, only one will suffice for us: that of Venus Aphrodite, at the Medici Palace. It is believed that artists can benefit greatly from a thoughtful examination of these statues of both genders, as they are models of the highest perfection. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to the examples we have mentioned; because stretching beyond the beauties of all these figures would be endless. We will later discuss everything concerning the distinction of different statues consecrated by antiquity, by their grandeur & by the characters to whom they were dedicated; especially since this part relates more to history than to the art of sculpture.
On Balance
The imbalance of weight in the human figure gives rise to movement, as seen in Figure I, Plate IX, where the subject is either compelled to move or fall. In any movement, whether swift or delayed, the upper part of the body always leans towards the side it supports: the shoulder is lower and more sagging on the side corresponding to the foot, where attitude is fixed, providing support to the whole body. Figure II of the same plate shows the posture of a man standing without movement, where the shoulder is always lower on the side of the leg on which the figure is placed. Rest or the absence of movement comes from the balance of weight at the center.
Translation Notes
- "Pondération" is translated as "balance."
- "L'attitude est fixée" can mean the "pose is settled."
- "Égalité de la pondération" refers to weight distribution or balance.