Louis Priscilla - Figure Drawings

Louis Priscilla sketch of nudes on Ebay. He contributed to Humorama in the 50s and 60s and wrote a book called Basic Drawing which has been republished by Dover.

The reprint and some original editions are available at Alibris.com.

The cartoon is from journalista.

Basic Drawing.

Another reprint: Basic Drawing.

Virgil Finlay - Figures

Virgil Finlay was a prolific illustrator of pulp magazines from 1935 almost until his death in 1971. The first drawing above is an original work "Venus". done in a stipple technique for which he became known. A description of his use of stipple combined with cratchboard work is at this biography at JVJ Publishing. The next two covers from Famous Science Fiction and from the Magazine of Horror show this technique.

How to Draw the figure in Action - De Arte Gymnastica - Hieronymi Mercurialis

De Arte gymnastica libri 6 by Hieronymus Mercurialis (or Girolamo Mercuriale) was the earliest illustrated book on sports medicine.  An edition for sale on  Ebay. Another book and prints removed from the book on  Ebay.

Google books version.

De Arte Gymnastica Libri Sex: In Quibus Exercitationum Omnium Vetustarum Genera, Loca, Modi, Faculates, & Quidquid Denique Ad Corporis Humani Exercitationes Pertinet, Diligenter Explicatur

De Arte Gymnastica Libri Sex, in quibus exercitationum omnium vetustarum genera, loca, modi, faculates, & quidquid denique ad corporis humani exercitationes pertinet, diligenter explicatur.

De arte gymnastica libri sex . . . editio novissima.

De arte gymnastica: Libri Sex : twenty-two woodcuts (Northridge facsimile series)

Naturalism in Greek Sculpture

This image is from an Israeli art history blog showing the development towards naturalism in Greek Sculpture. Here is a translation of the text.

One can also see in the sculptures how the statue's proportions improved over time. The head gradually became smaller and more realistic. The chin was initially very prominent but over time became more realistic. There is a process towards a more realistic expression. Proportions were not too accurate in the early sculptures. The hands over time begin to be less close to the body.  You can see the tendons on the foot employed to show movement, giving a more dynamic sculpture. Neck width is also variable and will be less thick. Hair begins to loosen the Egyptian tradition of long braided. Towards the end of the period the hair has a more realistic form as it was in Greece. Again there is emphasis on anatomical accuracy. A hypothesis is that the Olympics, were held naked in the same period and allowed a more accurate study of the human form.

 
The Greek Body

Understanding Greek Sculpture: Ancient Meanings, Modern Readings

Red, White and Blue

Laura Knight, Amedo Modigalini, Martina Schapiro

How Artists use Photographs

Here's an interesting blog post with examples of how artists used photo references for their book covers, most examples are from pulp fiction. Underpaintings - A forum posted by Matthew D. Innis which celebrates excellence in Representational Art - past, present, and future.

Another post from the same blog, this one is about Gil Elvgren.



Pulp Art: Original Cover Paintings for the Great American Pulp Magazines

The Incredible Pulps: A Gallery of Fiction Magazine Art (Graphic Art)

Pulp Fiction Art - Cheap Thrills and Painted Nightmares

The Proportions of the Human Figure by Joseph Bonomi

 Plates from the small book The Proportions of the Human Figure by Joseph Bonomi

PLATE III
The measures of Gibson's triangle are given on the staff of the central figure. They refer only to length.
The horizontal lines marked V are those supplied by Vitruvius; they show how much the figure has lost in height, by putting the whole weight of the body on one leg, or standing at ease.
The horizontal line marked G is that given by Gibson; it should be found to coincide with the dots.
The line at the left represents four cubits, one of which is divided into palms and digits.
The line on the right is divided into heads, parts and minutes.
N.B.—The leg on which a person stands is always some little less in width than that which bears no weight, owing to the contraction of the muscles for sustaining the limb in position for bearing the weight of the body; so is the measure from the pit of the neck to the shoulder, some little less on that side of the body. This will be seen by the tables.
PLATE IV.
Plate IV. shows the normal proportions of the female figure, and the measures correspond with those of Plate III.

Google books versions, you have to look at both of them to see all the plates.

The proportions of the human figure By Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, Joseph Bonomi

The proportions of the human figure By Joseph Bonomi

Here is a reference to the book in Human Proportions for Artists By Avard T. Fairbanks, Eugene F. Fairbanks.

Another mention of the book is found in Sculpture, Egyptian--Assyrian--Greek--Roman: With numerous illustrations, a map of ancient Greece and a chronological list of ancient sculptors and their works By George Redford




The Proportions Of The Human Figure, As Handed Down To Us By Vitruvius: From The Writings Of The Famous Sculptors And Painters Of Antiquity (1872)

Human Proportions for Artists

Leonardo Technical Manuals- Human Anatomy Plates for Artists

A related article published in 1879 relates other methods of determining proportion: The Measure of Man.

Anatomy: A Complete Guide for Artists


Anatomical Plates of the Bones and Muscles: Diminished from Albinus for the Use of Students in Anatomy and Artists (1807)

Anatomy Drawing School