THE SPIRAL HIND LIMB

摘要

Nuances of the horse's hind limb anatomy dictate its complex yet elegant spiralling function. On a cool morning in June 1490, a handsome, broad-shouldered gentleman strode alone into the piazza centrale in Padua, northern Italy. He crossed the dusty plaza, then sat down on one of the marble benches rimming its central fountain. With the splash of water sounding at his back, he removed his velvet cape. Setting it aside, he drew from a bundle a charcoal crayon and a single sheet of parchment - a durable but expensive drawing surface that had already been reused several times.