“When it comes to executing an image of a person, one should, as much as possible, respect in that image the size as well as the harmony of the silhouette and of the colours of that person. It would not be so important to proceed in this way if it were not for the fact that the ancients were very careful in this respect, and that they certainly wanted the saints to appear under the aspect in which we are generally accustomed to representing them. Athanasius the Great says that in Beirut they worshipped an image of Our Lord Jesus Christ that showed him standing.”

“Porro in formandis humanis Imaginibus illud observandum est, ut Imago ipsa staturam et lineamentorum colorumque proportionem hominis cuius Imago est, quantum fieri potest, referat. Quae res non videretur tanti facienda esse, nisi constaret veteres hac in parte solicitos fuisse: imo et ipsos Sanctos in ea specie apparere voluisse, qua passim pingi solent. Certe magnus ille Athanasius dicit Imaginem Domini nostri Iesu Christi in Beryto sane venerandam fuisse, quod integram Christi Domini proportionem exprimebat.”