Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10324
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    Front and side view of the head

    Date
    1663
    Creator
    Unknown, Engraver
    After
    Object type
    Library reference
    Tracts/X4/2
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 183mm
    width (print): 240mm
    Subject
    Content object
    human body
       > eye
    human body
       > head
    human body
       > face
    Description
    Diagram illustrating the proportions of the human head; it vertically divides the head and neck into five separate sections.

    Plate 1 from La Vraye Science de la Pourtraicture Descrite & Demonstrée by Jean Cousin (Paris, Francois Demasso, 1663). Inscribed: ‘Proportions & mesures de la teste veuë de front, & de costé ou profil, & particulatités d’icelle. 4.’
    Object history
    Jean Cousin’s publication was created to assist those involved in the arts (‘painters, sculptures, goldsmiths, architects, carpenters’) in the ‘true science’ of anatomy and portraiture. It proved very popular and from its first publication in c.1595, continued to be reprinted until the late 17th century.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > France
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