PART TWO

[47] What the young man should learn first.
The young man should first learn perspective; then the measurements of everything; then copy from the hand of a good master, so as to accustom himself to good limbs; then draw from nature, to confirm for himself the reasons of the things he has learned; then for a time study the works of various masters; then form the habit of putting the art into practice and executing it.

[48] b. What the study of young men should be.
The study of the young, who desire to become proficient in the sciences that imitate all the figures of the works of nature, must, as regards drawing, be accompanied by the shadows and lights appropriate to the place where such figures are set.

[49] c. What rule should be given to young painters.
We know clearly that sight is among the swiftest operations there is, and in an instant it sees infinite forms; nevertheless it comprehends only one thing at a time. Suppose, reader, that you look at this whole written page in a single glance: at once you will judge it to be full of various letters, but in that moment you will not know what letters they are, nor what they mean; hence you must proceed word by word, line by line, if you wish to gain knowledge of those letters. Again, if you wish to climb to the top of a building, you must go up step by step, otherwise it will be impossible to reach its height. And so I say to you whom nature turns toward this art: if you wish to have true knowledge of the forms of things, begin with their particulars, and do not go on to the second unless you first have the first well in memory and in practice. And if you do otherwise, you will throw away your time, or truly you will greatly prolong your study. And I remind—