Rating: 
Summary: Skip it, some good drawings, the text is from medical school
Review: I belive artists are mostly visual people, the anatomical descriptions are very difficult to follow, unless perhaps you have been to medschool. Pluses are the drawings, the size, and the price
Rating: 
Summary: Superb Illustrations
Review: I consider myself to be a pretty intelligent and patient reader and even I have to admit that the text is really difficult to read. The plates (illustrations), however, are outstanding. If you're advanced enough to be able to study and learn directly from drawings without the aid of much text then you should definitely pick up a copy of this book. I can't think of any other drawing books where you can learn as much for... $ The illustrations in the new Dover reprint actually lose a lot of quality compared to the orginal printing, so if possible try and find an older copy.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Illustrations
Review: I consider myself to be a pretty intelligent and patient reader and even I have to admit that the text is really difficult to read. The plates (illustrations), however, are outstanding. If you're advanced enough to be able to study and learn directly from drawings without the aid of much text then you should definitely pick up a copy of this book. I can't think of any other drawing books where you can learn as much for... $ The illustrations in the new Dover reprint actually lose a lot of quality compared to the orginal printing, so if possible try and find an older copy.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the better drawing art books
Review: Intelligently[maybe too much so]written.Excellent illustrations. Worth the read, and worth the $'s. Order it today, start drawing immeadiately!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best figure drawing book available
Review: John H. Vanderpoel is probably the best artist in the last century to have written an instructional book about drawing. The Human Figure may not always be easy to follow, owing to its having been written over fifty years ago and thus not in a style to which contemporary readers are accustomed, but it rewards patient study with knowledge that is clearly articulated, true and absolutely indispensable to serious artists. This book is a treasure at a time when such information is very hard to come by. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An important work
Review: John H. Vanderpoel's contribution to art students is a valuable one, because it stresses the importance of a comprehensive treatment of the figure. Vanderpoel's drawings are without equal--beautiful and true to nature, rendered with a discriminating eye; there is no artificial delineation of muscles, stylization of form and pose, or other imposition of anatomical understanding to be found here. Yet, Vanderpoel's impressive understanding of the skeleton and musculature is evidenced in the text and illustrations, where he discusses its influence upon surface form. In The Human Figure, Vanderpoel analyzes every form on the figure of concern to the artist, from the point of view of the artist--in terms of planar structure, wedging and interlocking of forms, and the play of light and shadow. He points out common mistakes and misconceptions. The book is not particularly long, but its thoroughness, use of anatomical terminology and occasionally long-winded writing style will surely put off beginners to the subject. Vanderpoel's work is best approached with at least a basic understanding of the bones and muscles, as the author suggests in his introduction. Taken under that condition, there is no other book quite like this one, and Vanderpoel's drawings alone should provide endless instruction to the patient student. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Not for everyone
Review: Nelson Shanks refers to the illustrations of this book as examples of simplifying the human form into patterns of light and dark. While the illustrations do accomplish this, the book is by no means a reference manual for rendering the human body. Also, most of the illustrations appear washed out in my copy of this book. If you are interested in beautiful examples of sensitive charcole renderings of the human figure, this book is outstanding. If you want a visual reference work on the under-structures of the human form, you can find better books than this one. For anatomical reference, I highly recommend: "Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing From Life" by George B. Bridgman, and "The Human Figure: An Anatomy for Artists" by David K. Rubins.
Rating:
Summary: A must buy!
Review: One of the best books ever written or drawn! If you have the time, patience, and intelligence to read the text, you'll find some of the best advice ever written on figure drawing. Vanderpoel approaches it from an academic point of view. Pointing out the major body forms and planes. He shows the student how to look for the most important things. This is not an anatomy book but an approach to the human figure concieved as a three dimensional object in space. Read it! I promise you that you can benefit by this method of thinking!
Rating:
Summary: A classic!
Review: One of the finest books available on figure drawing, written by someone who could do it! His advice helps you look at the big picture, rather than getting lost in details. It requires some patience to read, but most worthwhile things do. A real gem!
Rating:
Summary: Small but eloquent...
Review: This is an elegant, eloquent little book. I'm a professional illustrator and sculptor, from a family of artists, and I find this small book stands out among the many references available.
It has a graciousness about it, not merely addressing anatomy, but giving a graceful translation of form.
I think it's good to have a number of references, and this is one I wouldn't do without!
| 
