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LDE ENGL1721


A Treatise on Painting, by Leonardo da Vinci
1721
Senex and Taylor, London


Chapter

LDE T0321   CID203  How to dispose the Members of a single Figure

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In a Figure which you represent alone, observe, that no two Members, ever appear to have the same Motion: For instance, if your Figure be seen running by it self, let not both its Hands be thrown forwards, but it one be before, let the other come behind; for without this Disposition, it will never be believ'd that it runs: If the right Foot be advanced the foremost, let the right Arm lag the hindmost; since without this Contrast of parts, and this contrariety in their Motions, a Man never runs well, and with advantage. If another Figure be introduced following the first, with one of its Legs advanced a little forwards, take care to bring the other Leg underneath the Head; and on the contrary, let the Arm of the same side, be reach'd out the foremost. Of this we shall speak more at large in our Treatise of Motion.