Anatomy: the artist concentrating on the study of the living form; anatomical character of the Divine, Heroic and Common Nature: 832/7.f.23

Materials used in production

Grey ink

Components of the work

Support composed of laid paper
Leaf Height 230 mm Width 169 mm

Techniques used in production

Handwriting : Pen and grey ink on laid paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 14
• Location: Upper right
• Method of creation: Grey ink

• Text: 23
• Location: Upper right
• Method of creation: Graphite

Inscription present: the following in grey ink: [i] preceding word crossed through; [ii] preceding word crossed through; [iii] preceding word crossed through; [iv] preceding word crossed through

• Text: As the Physician and the Surgeon must be / better acquainted with Anatomy than the / painter or Sculptor, we must therefore beleive[sic] / that the artists of the age of Hippocrates / Phidias, Alcamenes, Critias Praxiteles X &c &c / did not excel Hippocrates in this science. / hence it follows that as those Illustrious artists / had not the same[i] advantage of an intimate / knowledge of the muscular forms by means / of dissection in order to produce the eccelent[sic] / works which they have left, they must have / made amends for that defect by a more / diligent study of the living figure under all it's forms & circumstances / assisted by Philosophy & Geometry / In what manner the different Char[ii] Anatomical / Character of the figure was ascertained according to / the gradations of Divine, Heroic, & Common Nature / we may determine by the following observations / In the early productions of Art in every Country / Divinities & men are represented by forms copied from Common / Nature / When[iii] Philosophy afterwards teaches that / supernatural beings shou[iv] should be represented / X Pliny l34: C: 8
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Grey ink

Inscription present: the following in grey ink: [i] preceding word crossed through; [ii] preceding word crossed through; [iii] preceding four words crossed through; [iv] preceding word crossed through

• Text: human forms in their perfect simple[i] principles, the divisions / being few, & those, simple[ii] Geometrical figures little / compounded, these simple representations as they / repres express[iii] of first principles express the Ideas of / sublimity & perfection X / Common life must be represented by a faithful representation[iv] copy of Common Nature / Note X In the statue of Apollo Belvidere, the figures / of Monte cavallo the Copy from the Gem of Mercury / in this book, &c the pectoral muscles are of a curve / little compounded, the lines of the ribs almost half / a circle the division of the Abdomenal muscles / by the Linea Albis a perpendicular line intersected / at right angles, the Thigh is little divided the / general form of the knee is nearly an oval, the interior / line of the Tibia from the lower Apophysis[iv] head of the / said bone to the inner Ancle[sic], as nearly a regular curve / of 30 degrees - the Anatomical divisions of figures / in violent action as the Group of the Boxers, the figure commonly called the fighting Gladiator, their / Anatomical forms will be ascertained by subjects of / common nature
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Grey ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: 832/7.f.23
Primary reference Number: 38592
Stable URI

Audit data

Associated departments & institutions

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