Art and Perspective

The art of perspective is of such a nature as to make what is flat appear in relief. Perspective is the guide and the gateway
and without this nothing can be done well in the matter of drawing. So wrote Leonardo da Vinci.

Throughout time, artists have struggled to represent our solid, three-dimensional world on a flat, two-dimensional canvas.

How have artists represented our world over the centuries?

At what point did artists first represent the world in a realistic, natural-looking way?

What techniques did they use to help achieve realism?

Taking famous works as examples, the author takes us on a journey from pre-historic art, through spectacular Renaissance paintings, to modern-day hyper-realism. We learn how, over time, artists devised techniques that produce impressive depth and realism on a flat canvas.

Next time you see a painting, especially a famous one, you will appreciate, even more, the genius behind the canvas!