New Artistic Anatomy

This book is the first of its kind to offer a comprehensive description of the female form. Here, Richer focuses on the variations in the body that make each individual unique. Richer accurately analyzes the proportions of men and women. He discusses ways in which male and female bodies are similar, then highlights ways in which they are different. He talks about the role of the skeleton, the fat deposits, and the skin in creating the superficial form of the body, and he describes the features of the face.

Richer is already known as an authority on the structure of the human body. His Artistic Anatomy, which describes the male figure exclusively, has been in print since 1971 and is a canonical text in the field. Now, his text on the female figure is available to an English audience for the first time. Together, these two volumes give a thorough description of human forms for the purposes of the artist. This book contains 122 marvellous illustrations drawn by Richer in black & white, a translator’s preface, and index. It is an essential reference for figurative artists working in any art medium.

Author Biography

Dr. Paul Richer (1849-1933) was the leading French instructor of artistic anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris from 1903-1922. He was also a practicing physician, author, and sculptor whose works are found in the Musee d’Orsay. Allana M. Benham is a practicing artist and specialist in artistic anatomy. She teaches at Atelier de Bresoles in Montreal.