Four Books on Human Proportion

A 16th century anatomical drawing in brown ink on aged paper depicts the proportions of the human male figure. The page contains three main sketches: a profile view on the left, a detached arm in the center, and a full frontal view on the right. The figures are segmented by a grid of horizontal lines corresponding to specific anatomical landmarks. Numerous handwritten numbers and symbols, characteristic of Renaissance proportion studies by Albrecht Dürer, are placed along these lines to indicate measurements. The text "the half" original: "la metà" is written across the knee line of the frontal figure, and a capital "A" appears near the bottom right of the page to identify this specific body type.

14 and 15
8
4
1
2
3
13
6
10
5
16
4 1/2
4
3 1/2
2
12
10
3
5
2 1/2
11
20
2 1/2
6
13
1 1/2
18
7
2
6

1 1/2
3
2
18
4
15

10
8
10
2
5
6
3
10
2
1
22
15
4
1
9
10
19
6
4
1
3
2
3
12
6
14
the half original: "la metà"
2
2
2 1/2
22 and 24
1
14
7
27
24
A This letter identifies the first of Dürer's five types of human symmetry, representing a man of standard, sturdy proportions.
2
2