The science of beauty, as developed in nature and applied in artHay, D. R. (David Ramsay)
Philosophy
The science of beauty, as developed in nature and applied in art
Hay, D. R. (David Ramsay)
Aesthetics; Nature (Aesthetics); Proportion (Art)
The outline of the front of the figure commences at the point (1), (fig.
2, Plate II.), and, passing almost vertically over the platzsma-myoidis
muscles, reaches the point (2), where the neck ends by a concave curve.
From (2) the outline rises convexly over the ends of the clavicles,
and continues so over the pectoral muscle till it reaches (3), where
the mamma swells out convexly to (4), and returns convexly towards
(5), where the curve becomes concave. From (5) the outline follows the
undulations of the rectus muscle of the abdomen, concave at the points
(6) and (7), and having its greatest convexity at (8). This series
of curves ends with a slight concavity at the point (9), where the
horizontal branch of the pubes is situated, over which the outline is
convex and ends at (10).
The outline of the thigh commences at the point (11) with a slight
concave curve, and then swells out convexly over the extensors of the
leg, and, reaching (12), becomes gently concave, and, passing over the
patella at (13), becomes again convex until it reaches the ligament of
that bone, where it becomes gently concave towards the point (14), whence
it follows the slightly convex curve of the shin-bone, and then, becoming
as slightly concave, ends with the muscles in front of the leg at (15).
The outline of the back commences at the point (16), and, following with
a concave curve the muscles of the neck as far as (17), swells into a
convex curve over the trapezius muscle towards the point (18); passing
through which point, it continues to swell outward until it reaches
(19), half way between (18) and (20); whence the convexity, becoming
less and less, falls into the concave curve of the muscles of the loins
at (21), and passing through the point (22), it rises into convexity. It
then passes through the point (23), follows the outline of the gluteus
maximus, the convex curve of which rises to the point (24), and then
returns inwards to that of (25), where it ends in the fold of the hip.
From this point the outline follows the curve of the hamstring muscles
by a slight concavity as far as (26), and then, becoming gently convex,
it reaches (27); whence it becomes again gently concave, with a slight
indication of the condyle of the thigh-bone at (28), and, reaching (29),
follows the convex curve of the gastrocnemius muscle through the point
(30), and falling into the convex curve of the tendo Achilles at (31),
ends in the concavity over the heel at (32).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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