A Treatise on Painting/Chapter 135
Chap. CXXXV.—Of Studies from Nature for History.
It is necessary to consider well the situation for which the history is to be painted, particularly the height; and let the painter place accordingly the model, from which he means to make his studies for that historical picture; and set himself as much below the object, as the picture is to be above the eye of the spectator, otherwise the work will be faulty.