CONTOUR (n.)
FILTERS
LINKED QUOTATIONS
Quotation
…] a coal or pencil of black-lead will serve the turn, reserving the stronger, and deeper touches for a second pass of the hand over your work ; and last of all, penning the Contours, and out lines with a more even and acute touch, neatly finishing the hatches with a resolute, constant and slowing hand ; especially, as it approaches to the fainter shadowes, terminating them in lost and misty extreams, and thwarted (if you will counter-hatch) at equal, and uniform intervals (but not till the first be dry) or, if with single stroaks (which to us renders the most natural, and agreeable effects) with full, deep hatches, and their due diminishings.
Conceptual field(s)
Quotation
Contour.
The Contour of a Body, are the Lines that environ it, and make the Superficies of it.
Conceptual field(s)
Quotation
Friend,
Wherein particularly lies the Art of Colouring ?
Traveller.
Beside the Mixture of Colours, such as may answer the Painter’s Aim, it lies in a certain Contention, as I may call it, between the Light and the Shades, which by the means of Colours, are brought to Unite with each other ; and so to give that Roundness to the Figures, which the Italians call Relievo, and for which we have no other Name : In this, if the Shadows are too strong, the Piece is harsh and hard, if too weak, and there be too much Light, ’tis flat. I, for my part, should like a Colouring rather something Brown, but clear, than a bright gay one : But particularly, I think, that those fine Coral Lips, and Cherry Cheeks, are to be Banished, as being far from Flesh and Blood. ’Tis true, the Skins, or Complexions must vary, according to the Age and Sex of the Person ; An Old Woman requiring another Colouring than a fresh Young one. But the Painters must particularly take Care, that there be nothing harsh to offend the Eye, as that neither the Contours, or Out-Lines, be too strongly Terminated, nor the Shadows too hard, nor such Colours placed by one another as do not agree.
Conceptual field(s)
Quotation
Draught is a Physical Line, or Lineal Demonstration ; and hath always some Dimentions, if it be never so slender : and serves to represent Bodys according to their Forms, Aspects and Scituation ; Limiting and Determining the surface of an Object ; and Making out the Several Parts, which are contain’d therein. For no Superficies can Exist, without being Terminated by Lines, Streight, Circular or Mixt.
The Extent of Draught is Immense ; for it is not only concern’d in all the Visible Things in Nature, but in all Things which the Fancy or Imagination can form any Idea of, that can be compris’d under the Figure of Body : nay, so vast is its extent, that it adventures to Dive into the very Soul, and express its Thoughts ; for though Colour is accessary to Expression, yet nothing can be Terminated without Lines.
They that would arrive to the Perfection in the Practick, must dilligently observe these following Rules.
First he must draw by the Hand, Circles, Ovals, &c. Then the several Features of the Face by themselves, [...] then the several Members, [...]. Observing in the Hands and Feet, to draw the upper Lines first then the lower ; [...].
When he attempts a whole Body, he must begin with a Body standing Frontwise, [...].
For Rustick and Country Figures, the Contours must be Gross, Equally Counterhatch’d and Notch’d, without regard to extraordinary Neatness and Roundness.
But for Grave and serious Persons, they must be rounded, noble and Certain ; not so at adventure as the foremention’d.
They must be strong, Resolute, Noble, Perfect and Chose for Heroes.
They must be Puissant and Austere, full of Greatness and Majesty, for Deifyd Bodys.
And for young Women and Children, the Contours must be Smooth, Round and Delicate.
They must Design the Nudity, Model, &c. exactly, without Charging or overburthening any of their Parts ; their being no way to obtain an entire exactness, but by proportioning every part with the first, comparing them exactly, so that we may be at liberty to Strengthen and go over again the Parts as we shall think fit, when we make use of this Design ; as it truly follows and represents the Models whither they be Antique or Natural.
Conceptual field(s)
Quotation
The Contours must be Large, Square, and Boldly pronounc’d to produce Greatness ; and Delicate, and finely Waved, and Contrasted to be Gracious. There is a Beauty in a Line. in the Shape of a Finger, or Toe, even in that of a Reed, or Leaf, or the most inconsiderable things in Nature : I have Drawings of Guilio Romano of something of this Kind ; his Insects, and Vegetables are Natural, but as much above those of other Painters as his Men are : There is that in these things which Common Eyes see not, but which the Great Masters know how to give, and They Only.