Clariss. Pictoris et Geometræ Alberti Dureri /de varietate figurarum et flexuris partium ac gestib. imaginum /libri duo /qui priorib. de Symmetria quondam editis /nunc primum in latinum conversi accesserunt.
[Hierinn sind begriffen vier Bücher von menschlicher Proportion., Latin., , 1534.]
Variant Title
De varietate figurarum
Imprint
Impensis viduæ Durerianæ, per Hieronymum Formschneyder, Norinbergæ.): (In ædib. viduæ Durerianæ.)
Physical Description
[112] p. (some fold.) (the last leaf blank): illus. [incl. 60 full-page]; 306 mm. (In sixes.)
Contents
[T.p.] - Ad lectores in sequentes libros prefatio - [Text and illus.]; [poems in memory of Albrecht Dürer] - [Errata]; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
H. Davies states that the 'per Hieronymum Formschneyder' of the colophon refers to Hieronymus Andreä.
The illustrations are not signed.
References
H. Davies, Catalogue Of A Collection Of Early German Books In The Library Of C. Fairfax Murray (repr.), No. 153, p.288.
J. Selz, Albrecht Dürer: le peintre, le graveur et le théoreticien (1996); A. Dürer, The writings of Albrecht Dürer, tr. and ed. W.M. Conway (1958); E. Panofsky, 'Dürer as a theorist of art', in E. Panofsky, Albrecht Dürer, vol. I (1943), p.260-84.
Studies of proportion include E. Panofsky, 'The history of the theory of human proportions as a reflection of the history of styles', in Meaning in the visual arts (1955), p.55-107; V. Mortet, 'La mesure de la figure humaine et le canon des proportions d'aprs les dessins de Villard d'Honnecourt, d'Albert Dürer et de Léonard de Vinci', in Mélanges offerts à M. Emile Chatelain (1910), p.367-71.
Summary Note
This is a Latin translation of the third and fourth books of Albrecht Dürer's Hierinn sind begriffen vier Bücher von menschlicher Proportion (1528). The Latin translation of the first and second books had been published in 1532 (Alberti Dureri clarissimi pictoris et Geometræ de Sym¯etria partium in rectis formis hu¯anorum corporum Libri in latinum conversi (Norimbergæ ... M.D.xxxii ...)). The two volumes are often bound together, but are also often found separate.
In Book III Dürer continues his discussion of methods of measuring and representing human proportion, concluding with a passage on the relation of art to God. In Book IV he discusses the representation of movement and bent postures.
Many illustrations are full-page.
Binding Note
16th-century sheep; rebacked in 18th century, rebacked in 20th century retaining earlier gilt-decorated spine-piece lettered 'Nor', red morocco spine-label lettered 'Durer De Symmetria Partium'. Bound with one other.
Subject
People - Men - Women - Proportion
Treatises - Germany - 16th century
Translations from German - Translations into Latin - Germany - 16th century
Pictorial works - Woodcuts - Germany - 16th century