Beginning of the First Book.

A Shaper or DividerThe original Dutch uses "Schepder" and "Depier." These are archaic technical terms for a proportional scale or divider used to calculate fractions of a whole height. for measuring.

If I intend to create a human figure, I employ this method: I take a rule or measuring stick that is longer than the figure itself. Upon it, I draw a straight line as long as the figure is to be, so that one end touches the top of the head and the other end reaches the sole of the foot. Whether the figure be tall or short, I draw a specific line for each and divide it individually. Therefore, whenever I refer to a "part" by its number hereafter, I am always referring to a fraction of the total length of the whole figure between the top of the head and the soles of the feet.

I diligently divide this total length—which represents the number "one"—into as many parts as required, from two up to fifty or even a hundred. I mark these points on the ruler or measuring stick next to the long line, aligning one end with the height of the top of the head. I label them all with their digits, such as 2, 3, 4, etc. Through this method, the smallest numbers represent the longest parts, and the largest numbers represent the shortest parts. original: "wt de minste ghetallen de langhste deelen / ende wt de meeste ghetallen de kortste deelen." This refers to fractions: 1/2 (labeled 2) is a larger segment than 1/100 (labeled 100). Thus, the half part of the total length is 2, the third part is 3, the fourth part is 4, and so on, as described above.

And if I require it, I also divide each individual part, whether long or short, into as many parts as I wish, whether even or odd. For whoever wishes to measure very precisely must create small divisions, as one cannot measure all things with a single fixed part. Therefore, I sometimes combine two or three kinds of numbers here, large or small, even or odd, as best serves my purpose. Furthermore, such numbers as I set down hereafter may be reversed or used according to each person's preference. But to make this more clearly understood, I wish to place the aforementioned divideroriginal: "depler" before your eyes. This divider must first be made accurately and with great certainty; otherwise, without it, it would take much time and great effort to constantly search for the length of a specific part within the total span between the crown of the head and the sole of the foot. How I measure the figures follows hereafter.

A vertical diagram on the right side of the text block illustrating a measurement tool. A long vertical line on the left serves as the baseline for the full height. To its right, there is a sequence of eleven shorter vertical lines of varying lengths, all aligned to the top. These lines are labeled with the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 14. Each line represents a proportional division of the total height (for example, the line marked '2' is exactly half the length of the main height, and '3' is one-third). Each proportional line ends with a decorative serif or hook and its corresponding number.