The moving figure: balance in rising, climbing, running, lifting
How weight shifts about the body's axis, with rules for portraying nudes
A column of small nude figures down the right margin — a man rising from steps, one climbing rough ground, one running, one crouching and one bearing a load — each divided by a vertical axis line, illustrates how a body distributes its weight in motion. Leonardo's notes reason mechanically about balance: to rise, to climb or to run, a person must throw weight forward of his axis toward the direction of movement, while a load-bearer must draw back to keep the supporting foot beneath the weight. Two further notes, headed on the sheet as being on the portrayal of nudes, give the painter practical rules: build the whole figure before finishing any single limb, and never align head, chest, arm and leg the same way.
On this page
Rising from a seated position
Someone seated cannot lift himself to his feet by the force of his arms alone, unless the part of him forward of his axis is heavier than the part behind it.
Leaning forward to climb
A man climbing must direct more of his weight forward onto the higher foot, ahead of his axis rather than behind it. A person always throws the greater part of his weight toward the direction in which he means to move.
The runner's lean and shifting axis
The faster a man runs, the more he leans toward his direction, throwing more weight ahead of his axis. Running downhill the axis rests on the heels; running up a steep, on the toes; on level ground, first on the heels then on the toes.
Counterbalancing a load
This man cannot bear his weight unless he offsets the forward load by drawing his body backward, so that the supporting foot always stays in the middle of the weight.
Portray a nude whole before finishing a limb
When you portray nudes, portray them entire first, then finish the limb that pleases you and bring it into accord with the others; otherwise you fall into the habit of never joining the limbs together well.
Do not align head, chest, arm and leg
Never turn the head the same way as the chest, nor let the arm go like the leg. If the head turns to the right shoulder, set his left-side parts lower than his right; and if you throw the chest out with the head turned left, make the right-side parts higher than the left.