THE STORY
Distinguishing itself from the five-year diploma program at the Accademia di Belle Arti, renowned as the most prestigious diploma in the Italian university system, painter Gianluca Rotelli's artworks adorn private collections in Italy and around the globe. Born in Livorno, he graduated from the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Firenze in 1997, showcasing his commitment to traditional techniques inspired by the Italian Renaissance masters.
In 2000, Rotelli secured a scholarship at the Florence Academy of Art, a three-year American university located in Florence. Guided by Daniel Graves, he delved into the sight-size method and honed his skills in oil painting techniques. Continuing his artistic journey, Rotelli refines his craft through participation in various workshops with Professor Vitalii Borovik, an instructor at the Repin State Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg.
Anatomy for Artists
To improve the drawing and shapes of the human body, it's important to first study the superficial muscles, bones, and anatomy. The bones of the pelvis, spine, rib cage, arms, and legs should be examined in detail. Once the bones are understood, small groups of muscles can be analyzed in each lesson. This course aims to teach students how to imagine volumes and masses in 3D, helping them understand the mechanisms that allow the human body to stand and move.
Method of Drawing by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci expounded on the proportions of the human body with meticulous detail:
According to nature's design, the human face, from the chin to the top of the forehead and the lowest roots of the hair, constitutes a tenth part of the overall height. Similarly, the open hand, measured from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger, shares the same proportion. The head, from the chin to the crown, is an eighth of the total height, and including the neck and shoulder from the top of the breast to the lowest roots of the hair, it represents a sixth. From the midpoint of the breast to the summit of the crown constitutes a fourth. Examining the face itself, the distance from the bottom of the chin to the under side of the nostrils is one third of its height, and the nose, from the under side of the nostrils to a line between the eyebrows, shares the same proportion. Continuing upwards to the lowest roots of the hair also encompasses a third, constituting the forehead. The length of the foot corresponds to one sixth of the body's height, the forearm to one fourth, and the breadth of the breast is also one fourth. Each body part adheres to its symmetrical proportions, a principle employed by the renowned painters and sculptors of antiquity to achieve enduring acclaim.
Furthermore, in the human body, the navel naturally serves as the central point. When a person lies flat on their back with hands and feet extended, and a pair of compasses is centered at the navel, the fingers and toes will touch the circumference of a circle drawn from that point. Just as the human body yields a circular outline, it can also be inscribed within a square figure. By measuring the distance from the soles of the feet to the top of the head and applying that measure to the outstretched arms, the breadth will be found to equal the height, resembling the symmetry of perfectly square plane surfaces.
