"A man has one rib less than a woman, on the left side."

I'm currently reading excerpts from "The Craftsman's Handbook" by Cennino d'Andrea Cennini for Italian Renaissance Thought and Art. Cennini was an Italian painter who's "how-to" book was widely circulated throughout the 15th Century. As an artist, Cennini himself, honestly, wasn't a huge deal. But nevertheless, the guy knows his stuff. I'm strangely fascinated by how deliberate Italian Renaissance painters were in all that they did. Everything served a purpose. They were mindful of their materials, of their masters, of their every move, every decision, every idea, etc. And while their beliefs are almost entirely different from my own, the respect I have for the artists of the time is unmeasurable. A painter was of noble character. Exalted by his reverence for God. He who wished to enter into this profession did so with enthusiasm, reverence, obedience, and constancy. You had to be willing to submit yourself entirely, under the direction of your master. Your master would serve as your mentor and would set an example of what you wish to achieve under his counsel. I realize all of this must sound so rigid, but it wasn't (and isn't) completely.... rigid. The artist, Cennini explains, is like a poet in that he is free to compose according to his imagination. The desire to create comes naturally, without a master's guidance, whether it be to serve a Higher purpose, as a labor of love, or to embellish fundamental ideas. The creativity is there. But, the reason for submitting to a true master is simply to grow.

"Their intellect will take delight in drawing, provided their nature attracts them to it of themselves, without any master's guidance, out of loftiness of spirit. And then, through this delight, they come to want to find a master; and they bind themselves to him with respect for authority, undergoing an apprenticeship in order to achieve perfection." - Cennini

I also found this next excerpt to be insightful and also kind of hilarious. The chapter is titled, "HOW YOU SHOULD REGULATE YOUR LIFE IN THE INTEREST OF DECORUM AND THE CONDITION OF YOUR HAND; AND IN WHAT COMPANY; AND WHAT METHOD YOU SHOULD FIRST ADOPT FOR COPYING A FIGURE FROM HIGH UP" The idea of making life-choices revolving around the condition of one's hand is so funny to me. But it makes SENSE. (As both an artist and a lesbian.) I couldn't tell you how many close-calls have potentially limited the use of both my hands. Actually, one of the reasons I stopped playing viola regularly, is because I have this irrational fear of developing carpel-tunnel syndrome. Even drawing and painting for prolonged sittings stirs up this anxiety of losing the use of my right hand. Also, Cennini explains that, as an artist, you should arrange your life accordingly, as if you were studying something like philosophy. He stresses a degree of self-discipline.

"[...] eating and drinking moderately, at least twice a day, electing digestible and wholesome dishes [...] saving and sparing your hand, preserving it from such strains as heavying stones, crowbar, and many other things which are bad for your hand, from giving them a chance to weary it."

This line reminds me of that character, former hand model J.P. Prewitt, in ZOOLANDER (Hah!) Perhaps the Renaissance Men were the pioneers of the first ever, climate controlled, humidified and temperate regulated glass hand. Lol. How funny is that.

This next part. Is just. Too. much. Too. Funny.

"There is another cause which, if you indulge it, can make your hand so unsteady that it will waver more, and flutter far more than leaves do in the wind, and this is indulging too much in the company of women." - Cennini

As with the Christian Priesthood - I guess painters, too, were expected to maintain some degree of chastity. But not entirely! So, maybe "chaste" isn't the right word. Note, "indulging too much". Basically, promiscuity would result in an unsteady hand. So quit jerkin' the gherkin, contain the beast, don't follow Lil' Wayne's example of "fucking every girl in the world" or "goin' down that drain, girl" or "open up her legs and filet' mignon that pussy". And you will be on the right path of artistry and salvation! ... according to popular belief in 14th and 15th century Italy, I mean.

This is Giotto's fresco, "The last Judgement" over the entrance of the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy. I think it was commissioned in 1305 or around that time?