[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] It is certain that the very best Masters who practice their Art in Copper, Ivory, Marble, or also in different paints, extract some precepts from the natural things themselves to direct their imitation after the precepts of this, to not only strike the entire contour of the depicted bodies well, but also to express the light and shadow, the highlights and depths after life.

This section is not present in the first Latin edition of 1637, but is included in the 1694 editions. [MO]

[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] As such the old Masters observed these five chief principles very closely in their Paintings. I. The Historical content, that is often called the Invention or also the argument. II. The uniformity, which one commonly calls the Proportion, symmetry, analogy and harmony. III. The colour or the colouring; and in this they tend to carefully distinguish the light and shadow, as well as the sheen and darkness. IV. The life; which exists in the Action and Passion, or (to speak more clearly) in the skilled depiction of the characteristics that one discerns in the unmovable things, as well as in the lively expression of the movements that one perceives in the movable things, when these do or suffer something considerable. V. The arrangement, that one commonly tends to call the Disposition or Ordinance.

[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] Philostratus has expressed the true nature as well as the true power of the Art of Drawing much clearer. It may not be denied that the lines, he says {…}, that exist without any splendor of colours but only in light and shadow, deserve the name of Painting; as we see not only the similitude of the depicted persons in it, but also their movements itself, whether that they are averted out of a hesitant shame or are driven towards something by a frank diligence and although these lines that are composed in the most simple way do not express the mixing of blood or the youthfulness of the hair and the beard in any way, nevertheless they modestly illustrate the perfect shape of a black or white man to us.

PHILOSTRATOS

[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] Let two parallel or aligned lines on a panel be traced with the colours of light and shadow, says Longinus {…}, so the outstanding shining clarity of the light will reach our face readily and appear to be much nearer.

LONGINUS, Dionysius

[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] As such we should pay more attention to that which Plinius tells us; namely that after the invention of the light and shadow, something else was added to the Art, which one calls the glow or the contrast [NDR: problematic translation of the term afsetsel], This glow is called Tonos, he says {…}, because it sits between the light and shadow and appears to originate from both. What the diminuition and the degradation of the colours is concerned, this is also called Harmoge. The term Tonus also appears to point to the execution of a mightier light; namely when some or another part of the Painting, which appears to have been heightened sufficiently, is heightened even more powerful, causing that that which appeared to stand out sufficiently, now only serves as a shadow, to make that which stood out before stand out even more. Yet we have talked about this in the previous part.

PLINIUS, L'Ancien

The suggested translation is problematic with regard to the translation of the terms 'afsetsel', 'verdrijving' and 'verschiet', which are translated here as contrast, diminuition and degradation (of colours). The user is advised to reconsider these translations carefully. [MO]

[proposition de traduction, Léonard Pouy:] Car la puissance d’effet que les objets vivants et réels possèdent suffit à leur conférer leur bienséance, même lorsque leurs ombres sont dispersées et confuses. Afin de dépasser cette imperfection que nous conservons dans nos œuvres, qui nous empêchant empêche d’atteindre cette bienséance, ni l’effet tel qu’il se manifeste à nous, nous devons arranger dans le bon ordre à la fois l’ombre et la lumière ensemble […]. [Métaphore du soldat sur le champs de bataille, ndr.] Il en va de même de nos ombres divisées, lesquelles ne peuvent capturer l’œil des amateurs tant qu’elles sont dispersées. Car c’est avec une force naturelle apparente (telle que je l’appelle) que nous devons dominer et nous emparer de l’œil des amateurs au moyen d’un bon arrangement de la conjonction des lumières et des ombres. Aussi n’est-il pas suffisant de simplement dire qu’il est nécessaire d’arranger les ombres correctement. Cela doit être mis en pratique au plus haut degré par tous les peintres.

Attirer le regard par les effets de lumière et d’ombre.

[suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] It should then be remarked that the things that are far in the distance are seldom or sparingly heightened, and that in many case it is sufficient to faintly point out only light and shadow;

[suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] And to conclude the true power of the Art of Drawing by means of an argument, let us then hear how Philostratus describes it to us in his second book in the life of Apollonius, where he argues as follows. {How Philostratus describes the Art of Drawing.) It cannot be denied (he says) that the lines that exist without any ostentation of colour but only in light and shadow, deserve the name of Painting; as we discern not only the likenesses of the depicted Persons, but also their movements;

PHILOSTRATOS

This section is not included in the English translation. [MO]

[suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] This is why, in Drawing, one should continually compare light against light and dark against dark, for you will understand as through a wise Rule, the power and force of each light and shadow; and consequently acquire an evenness, generality, harmony and execution in your Drawings.

[BLANC J, 2006, p. 445] Terpsichore a traité du beau coloris, Melpomène des lumières et des ombres. Il reste encore à parler de leur ordonnance unie et de leur disposition conjointe. Il est habituel de parler de ce secret de l'art en l'appelant "économie", ce qui signifie, pour le coloris, à peu près la même chose que les mots de symétrie, d'analogie, d'harmonie et de proportions pour l'art de la proportion, ou que l'unisson et la séduisante mélodie pour la musique. Cette économie suppose en effet une certaine pureté et une forte entente dans le rassemblement des couleurs, une bonne façon de les disposer -que nous appelons l'art des bouquets- et une disposition convenable des lumières et des ombres. Il faut ajouter à cela les avancées, les échappées, les modelés et les raccourcis.

[BLANC J, 2006, p. 300-301] Nous nous sommes déjà quelque peu exprimés, chez Melpomène, sur les degrés de lumière et d'ombre. Mais il relève surtout de l'économie de comparer les lumières variées et les choses éclairées entre elles.

[BLANC J, 2006, p. 452] C'est pourquoi je vous ordonne de ne pas trop embrouiller et mêler les lumières et les ombres, mais de les réunir habilement en groupes. {Règles pour disposer les lumières et les ombres}Faîtes que vos lumières les plus fortes côtoient aimablement les plus faibles. Je vous assure qu'elles excelleront plus splendidement. Entourez les bruns clairs de vos obscurités les plus profondes afin qu'elles puissent faire ressortir avec davantage de violence la force de la lumière.