A Treatise on Painting
by Leonardo da Vinci, translated by John Francis Rigaud
Of a Man standing, but resting more upon one Foot than the other
4003535A Treatise on Painting — Of a Man standing, but resting more upon one Foot than the otherJohn Francis RigaudLeonardo da Vinci

Chap. LXXVII.—Of a Man standing, but resting more upon one Foot than the other.

After a man, by standing long, has tired the leg upon which he rests, he sends part of his weight upon the other leg. But this kind of posture is to be employed only for old age, infancy, or extreme lassitude, because it expresses weariness, or very little power in the limbs. For that reason, a young man, strong and healthy, will always rest upon one of his legs, and if he removes a little of his weight upon the other, it is only a necessary preparative to motion, without which it is impossible to move; as we have proved before, that motion proceeds from inequality[1].

  1. See chapters lxi. lxiv.