Some combination of those last two images, including Allan's deepening of the body shadows on the figure, is probably getting about optimum.

It probably seems to some like we're "having our way" with John's painting, trying to insist on a single course. In fact we're just making some rather gross adjustments to try to illustrate a few ideas about how the focal area can be given its rightful prominence in the overall presentation. As Allan suggested, there are many ways to accomplish this -- but it's useful to do so, by whatever means you choose.