Examples of
Foreshortening (continued)
In this copy after Rubens, in order to show the foot coming out toward the viewer, Rubens had to shorten the calf. The calf is
only half the size of the foot when seen from this angle. You can draw or imagine a vertical line from the inner side of the
thigh, down through the calf and the foot. Rubens may have drawn the foot first and then created the calf and thigh in pro-
portion to the foot. Remember that in foreshortening, parts of the body overlap other parts, so it is important that their size
be considered and observed carefully. For example, the heel is obscuring the ankle, and so Rubens attaches the foot to the
calf with a small part of the ankle showing on the left side. Notice that the foot is considerably larger than the lower leg when
seen from this vantage point. This is because the foot is nearer to the viewer. Think about perspective. See “Foreshortening
the Torso” on page 240.
Copy after Peter Paul Rubens’ Study of Lower Leg and Foot,by J. S. Robinson