The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (1.1787)

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natural objects, is delighted by continual
variety, and is liable to be fatiated when in-
fpp&ing the imitations of thofe objects, if, in-
itead of that variety to which it has been ac-
cuftomcd, there is prefented to it a continual
repetition without diverfity. Moreover, as the
chief fource of character is a variation of pro-
portion, we fha}} perceive in treating that fub-
icCt, that to endeavour to bind the features of
the countenance by permanent meafurements,
Is abfurd and nugatory.

In meafuring the human figure, we felecl:, as
a ftandard, that part which is molt obvious,
and whofe proportion is ufually moll certain ;
the figure, therefore, is confidered as contain-
ing, in height or breadth, fo many meafures of
the head; and the head is divided into fo
many times the length of the nofe ; and that
our accuracy may be yet greater, the nofe is
fubdivided into twelve parts, ufually termed
minutes ; thefe minutes are feldom attended to
in our reflexions on nature, but are found of
considerable fervice in ft u dying the invaluable
remains of antiquity.

The general form of the head is that of an
oval, the broader part upwards, the narrower
below; and this form it retains on whatever
fide it is viewed.

There