Modelling and Sculpting the Human Figure (Dover Art Instruction)

A good reference for complete modeling procedures. Also a good source for anatomy of human structure.

Modelling & Sculpting the Human Figure (Dover Art Instruction) is a detailed study of sculpting & modeling by Edouard. Lanteri. He was a renowned teacher of "artistic anatomy" & friend to Rodin in the late 1800s & early 1900s. So, although more current modeling & sculpturing books have been published, this reprint provides the student with the do's & don'ts of sculptor from a Master. It has lots of illustrations to assist the beginning student, as well as the professional. This is a Learning book and a studio companion!

This is a very text heavy book, but with traditional "classic" approach. If you read and then study the line drawings, it all culminates into true knowledge of sculpting. The simplified teaching method of coping the "Renaissance masterpieces" is not the norm in this day or age, but is the method used by all modern masters. Edouard Lanteri taught Rodin in this way, and it shows!

I used this book to learn how to sculpt realistic human faces and heads out of modelling chocolate. I found quickly that while it has great depth of information in terms of muscular structure, I was able to skim that for the pertinent details relative to my project and skip the rest. I appreciate that Lanteri took the time to list all of the names of the different facial muscles, but I didn't need to learn them in order to work my project. The advice about using different lighting, the breakdown and order of construction of facial elements, emulating hair, and other instructions were extremely helpful. At a meeting of my local cake club, I did a demonstration of how I made the head on my award-winning Wolverine cake based on Lanteri's book and told everyone that this book is a vital manual should any of them wish to attempt to construct a realistic human sculpture. The instructions for clay translate well to modelling chocolate, so I highly recommend this book for any cake artist looking for tips on how to branch beyond cartoonish figures. That being said, where it fell short for me was the assumption that I'd have the subject in person before me in order to use calipers for measurements. Since Hugh Jackman hasn't yet seen fit to come to my kitchen to be measured, I had to go by a series of images found online. I recognize that Lanteri's book predates using Google Images for sculptural inspiration, but I really could have used a lot more advice on translating two-dimensional images into a three-dimensional form. I tried to wing it on my own via lots of measurements and ratio calculations, and got close, but not quite right. All in all, I recommend it to those who have varying levels of experience but a high level of patience and willingness to go slowly and practice. The instructions should work well for a variety of media including clay, modelling chocolate, polymer clay, or anything else that can be kept soft for long-term working.

The book was recommended to me while studying in Italy by a world class Sculptor, Professor and heir apparent to Malvina Hoffman, Vincent Ricci. I've read it many times and each time I've grown more appreciative. Though often dry and lacking eye candy it's the closest thing to sitting in a classroom in 15th century Florence. Modeling by Edouard Lanteri and the follow up volume 2 are truly the foundation of nearly every instructional book in print. Long before the overly intellectualized works attempting to pass for art there were sculptors that could actually sculpt. Lanteri's book is a return to century's old teachings, a manual that offers a complete knowledge of modeling and sculpture.

This book may be regarded as the sculptor's bible!

This is the top rated book according to our instructor. It is the most thorough book of its kind since sculpting has become a sort of lost art. Our instructor is a professional sculptor and his work is in museums around the country and has sculpted for Hollywood films. I find the book very interesting and helpful. It is a bit old for today but it is an excellent guide for the beginner as well as the professional.

I have been literally consuming all the information to train myself in the art of sculpting

I find this book perfect for modelling my art dolls; plenty of pictures, explanations and pictures. And the fact it is an old book does not matter at all: human proportions haven't changed much since the 19th. Of course, the models in the book seem to lack a bit of muscle because the beauty standards are those of the late 19th century, but once you get how the muscular system is settled, you can play with it very easily.

Great

大変すばらしい教科書のような人体の彫塑（粘土を使った人間作り）の本です。 米アマゾンではレビュー数20件、星4つ半の名著です。 道具の説明から始まり、頭蓋骨から目、鼻、口、各パーツの造形の説明、 美術解剖学を交えた正確な人体像の作り方（特に顔の筋肉の表現技法については 必読です！）から布の表現までやっています。 ただ、コレ全部英語なんです。写真と図はほん〜のちょびっとしか掲載されていません。 ８〜９割が英語の文章です。 Modeling the Figure in Clay (Practical Craft Books) と 合わせて読めばかなり強力な参考書となるはずなんですが･･･ なんとかこれを翻訳してくれる会社が現れないものでしょうか。 これだけ素晴らしい本が日本で広く読まれないというのは 大きな損失だと思います。

Verdadeira aula de mestre! Agora aproveitar o livro e mão na massa!

One of those truly rare, exceptional books. From Rodin's teacher, a text that is more than 120 years old (incl. many illustrations), and still very relevant. In fact, imo it far surpasses modern publications on the topic in many regards. The author’s philosophical approach to art and art-teaching is exemplary and offers truly rare insights -- into sculpting as an artform, the art of teaching, but also wider insights relevant to other artforms as well (with the chapter on composition as a stand-out example). This is one of my best finds, and a true reference for aspiring artists and art-teachers alike. I would have given 6-stars if I could.