Drawing the Female Nude [Paperback]

Giovanni Civardi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1995

“To paint, draw, or sculpt the human figure is one of the most demanding of artistic problems.... Explores the artistic possibilities and particular problems of female bodies.”—Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

To paint, draw, or sculpt the human figure is one of the most demanding of artistic problems. At least since Michelangelo, serious artists of the genre have known the value of a clinical study of anatomy. Civardi combines study at the Faculty of Medicine, Milan, with the teaching of sculpture, drawing, and illustration to bring us an excellent trilogy of manuals. The first, on basic human anatomy, begins with the structural characteristics of bones and muscle mass. Hundreds of drawings illustrate both the underlying structure and the exterior of the face, torso, arms, legs, hands, and feet in a wide range of poses, complete with proper scientific terminology. The volumes on the male and female nude explore the artistic possibilities and particular problems of both sexes. The three books are limited in size and limited to the bodies of young, trim Caucasians. Nevertheless, they are a good start and will be useful in most public collections. Academic libraries may prefer Eliot Goldfinger's monumental (and more expensive) single volume, Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form (Oxford Univ., 1991).
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Cassell Illustrated; 1st edition (December 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0289800900
• ISBN-13: 978-0289800904
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civardi's instruction is artistically inspiring!!!, October 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Drawing the Female Nude (Paperback)

Giovanni Civardi instructs the serious artist how to draw the female body in a way which is very inspriring. His talent in the arts can make any amateur artist want to excel in learning how to draw the female body correctly. The book contains a wide collection of poses broken down in: The Standing Figure, The Moving Figure, The Seated Figure, The Kneeling Figure, The Reclining and Outstretched Figure, The Figure in Depth, and a few Photographic References. Most of the poses in the book are Civardi's drawings. Throughout the book Civardi gives instruction on how to compose a nude female life drawing by encouraging the artist to look for specific qualities in the figure. For example: Light and Shadow, Depth Perception and Porportion, and the rules of thumb on the Characteristics and Placement of Anatomical Parts of the Female Anatomy. But this book may be used as reference to the artist to create their own works of art. There are very few books available that will do this, and I would suggest "Drawin

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book is good but not great, October 13, 2000

By 

William Villalobos (lompoc, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drawing the Female Nude (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking that it will show me block style and the skeletal structure but it doesn't it just shows a bunch of poses. So if your looking for a book that shows you block style or skeletal structure move on because this book isn't it. But if your looking for a book that shows poses this book is it.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars detailed, and unique, June 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Drawing the Female Nude (Paperback)

I am a professional comic book artist with Sirius Entertainment. This is a book for all artists who would like a better understanding of the female form. This is one on the few books showing such amazing views, movements, and positions, not regularly found in most anatomy books. The detail and instruction are amazing.