Perspective

Since the principles of perspective were first demonstrated in Renaissance Italy, the interpretation of depth and space has held a central place in Western art. From the 15th century onwards, artists have endeavoured to present three-dimensional images that are as close as possible to what we actually see. When the Italian artist Alberti published his geometrical method for re-creating accurate perspectives, he transformed the art world, and led artists such as Leonardo da Vinci to produce ever more life-like illusions of space and distance. In the 20th century, artists such as Picasso often rejected classical principles in favour of distorted viewpoints. Lavishly illustrated with colour reproductions of famous masterpieces, accompanied by simple diagrams clearly demonstrating the principles on which they are based, Perspective offers a fascinating introduction to one of the cornerstones of Western art.