Perspective and Printing Press - The First Information

Revolutions

Perspective

Media Pigments: minerals or organic. No organic

synthetic colors until 19th century. Fresco - pigment on plaster. Tempera - pigment plus water or egg. Linseed oil - 15th century. Use of paint as wood preservative very

recent. • First ready-mixed pigment and vehicle sold

only in 19th century.

Representational Styles

• Conceptual - Elements sized or placed according to importance

• Polydimensional - Objects viewed from vantage point that best shows features

• Perspective– Not automatically seen as “natural” by other

cultures– Children have to learn to interpret it

Conceptual

Conceptual Style –

Byzantine Madonna

Polydimensional

Polydimensional – British

Columbia Totem

Polydimensional – Egyptian

Polydimensional - Picasso

Polydimensional – Maurits Escher

Perspective

Perspective

Perspective

Vanishing point Size reduction with distance • Conventions are cultural and learned.

Development of perspective

Distance cues were known and used, but not systematically Size - distance relations Near objects overlap distant ones Foreshortening

Convergence of parallels (pre-perspective examples are common, but lacked geometrical consistency.)

The Book of Hours of the

Duc du Barry, ca. 1400

Size - distance relations inconsistent

Inconsistent Viewpoints

Convergence of parallels known but

lack geometrical consistency

Convergence

The Funeral of Raymond

Diocres (1408)

Post-14th Century Realism

A Very Modern

Convention

Development of perspective

Disasters of 14th century led to graphic depiction of often unpleasant realities. Art climate was ripe for greater realism.

Introduction of Ptolemy's Geographia about 1350 re-introduced projection techniques.

Use of grids as drafting aids Camera obscura as aid in drawing

Ptolemy’s Geographia

The Camera Obscura

Natural Pinhole Cameras

Effects of perspective technique Delight in new technical mastery (Tour de

Force) Discovery of power of close observation

and attention to detail Power of mathematics to explain nature Power of simple principles to achieve great

effects

Tour de Force: Andrea Pozzo, 1600’s

Tour de Force: Andrea Pozzo, 1600’s

Deliberate Use of Perspective