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Chapman, J.G. (John Gadsby), 1808-1889. / The American drawing-book: a manual for the amateur, and basis of study for the professional artist: especially adapted to the use of public and private schools, as well as home instruction.
(1870 [1873 printing])
Chapter II. The rudiments of drawing. The human head., pp. 35-[57] ff.
Page 35
CHAPTER IT.
THE
RUDIMENTS OF DRAWING.
THE HUMAN HEAD.
- If we
wieb to ascend to the top o~ c~
edifice,
we must be content to advance ate;
by atep,
otherwise we ahall never be able t~
attain it
-LaowAaDo DA VINCI.
HE first
impulse of all beginners
is to attempt
the delineation of
the human
face, and generally as
seen in profile,
because it is easi-
er thus to
express the actual form
of the features
;- and, there is
no object in nature on which the early efforts of the student of design can
he more deservedly
and profitably bestowed. In nothing else are combiued so ma~ny elements
of beauty and expres-
sion, such established and well-defined principles of form, and happy adaptation
of that form W
purpose-in short, such perfection of Design-and he that can draw the head
with accuracy
and knowledge, in all its details, is a master of the art. As a general
standard of beauty and
expression, the conception of man reaches to nothing beyond it. In his
dreams of angels and
beatified spirits he can go no higher, and the demons of the imaginary world
bear its
impress, however distorted or debased. Always before us, always subject
to our scrutiny and
observation, always exciting a deep interest and best remembered of all other
objects, possessing
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