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The principles of art: Motion, Character, Perspective of the human figure, Anatomy, Proportions, Drapery, Composition and Style: 832/5.f.34

Object information

Awaiting location update

Titles

The principles of art: Motion, Character, Perspective of the human figure, Anatomy, Proportions, Drapery, Composition and Style
Anatomy and Motion

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Flaxman, John

Categories

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1916-12) by Murray, Charles Fairfax

School or Style

British

Materials used in production

Brown ink

Components of the work

Support composed of laid paper
Leaf Size Height 213 mm Width 150 mm

Techniques used in production

Handwriting : Pen and brown ink on laid paper

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: [i] preceding two words crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding three words crossed through in brown ink; [iii] preceding word crossed through in brown ink

  • Text: in the above quotation from Pliny & Pausanias / we see the progress of the principles of the Arts of / design, from the beginning to[i] first attempts to / the Time of Phidias; let us now take these[ii] / let now illustrate[iii] consider these elements according / to the order of their discovery, & as they are only / indicated in the 2 Authors abovementioned, their / illustration & explanation must be given from / the remaining works of the ancient artists always / submitting that which is advanced to tryal[sic] of these / ancient authors whenever it may be necessary / we shall consider these principles under the / following heads / 1 Motion / 2 Character / 3 Perpective of the / Human figure / 4 Anatomy / 5 Proportions / 6 Drapery / 7 Composition / 8 Style
  • Location: Recto
  • Method of creation: Brown ink

Inscription present: [i] preceding three words crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding word crossed through in brown ink; [iii] preceding two words crossed through in brown ink; [iv] preceding word crossed through in brown ink; [v] preceding two words crossed through in brown ink; [vi] preceding three words crossed through in brown ink

  • Text: Motion - can be placed / The most simple position in which the human figure - / is when the human figure[i] it stands perfectly erect / resting on[ii] equally on both feet in which case the / center of gravity falls from the gullet between the / intersecting the pit of the stomach & the[iv] naveal conti- / -nuing its perpendicular equally between the knees & ancles[sic] / to the ground, as this is the simplest position, so / it naturally became the first object of imitation / for Art such as we see in the early Egyptian / Statues & it is most likely the early greek / statues were the same from the supposition / of the next article / 1st variation from Inaction in the standing / figure, when it is poised on one leg, the centre of gravity falls from the gullet on that side of / the pit of the stomach & naval next to the leg / which supports the weight; it intersects the upper[iii] lower / part of the Femur & upper part of the Tibia / just on the inside of the knee of the standing leg / it continues its perpendicular intersection thro' / thro the inner ancle to the ground: in this action / from the shoulder to the bottom of the ribs on the side / of the standing leg is lower than the other side of / the body, on the[v] whilst the ilium or[vi] hip-bone / the knee & the ancle are lower than on the same / side are higher than the opposite / fig 1 & 2 A
  • Location: Verso
  • Method of creation: Brown ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: 832/5.f.34
Primary reference Number: 38322
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 20 May 2021 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "The principles of art: Motion, Character, Perspective of the human figure, Anatomy, Proportions, Drapery, Composition and Style" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/38322 Accessed: 2024-06-17 14:22:46

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/38322 |title=The principles of art: Motion, Character, Perspective of the human figure, Anatomy, Proportions, Drapery, Composition and Style |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-06-17 14:22:46|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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