Old and Young in History Pieces; Depicting the Speaker
Trattato della pittura: keeping old and young apart in history compositions, and how to figure an orator
A text page of the Treatise on Painting (running head 'Terza parte') on peopling narrative scenes. It advises keeping old men few and apart from the young, since their manners differ and breed no friendship, and putting few youths in grave scenes of counsel. A further chapter describes how to depict a speaker among many: he weighs his matter, joins one finger of the left hand with two of the right, turns his open-mouthed face to an attentive crowd, while an old listener holds his mouth shut in wonder, the cheeks gathered in folds. The sheet is text only, with no drawings.
On this page
Keep old and young apart in history compositions
As a rule make old men rare in common history pieces, and separated from the young, for old men are few and their manners disagree with those of the young, and where manners do not conform, no friendship and hence separation arise. In scenes displaying gravity and counsel, put few young men, since the young willingly shun counsel and other noble things.
Depicting one who speaks among many people
Give the speaker acts fitting his matter — persuasive gestures for persuasion; for reasoned declaration, let him take one finger of the left hand with two of the right, the two smaller ones closed, face turned to the people and mouth slightly open as if speaking. Seated, he seems half-rising with head forward; standing, he leans chest and head toward the silent, admiring crowd, while an old listener holds his mouth shut in wonder, the cheeks drawn back in many folds.