Art: Perspective

Perspective is the process for representing three dimensions on a two dimensional flat surface. It is based on theories concerning how the eyes perceive objects. While the study of the laws of sight started during the middle ages by Rome and Greece, this process of perspective was not really used to develop pictures until the early 15th century.

Perspective was crucial in developing art that was realistic to the human eye. Art before the 15th century reflected the view that portraying an accurate image of what was seen was not a concern in creating art. Art in this period was more concerned with representing religious and social symbols. However, this began to change in the 13th and 14th centuries as artists began to want to accurately give a realistic picture of their world.

Angles and shadows both play crucial roles in creating depth and perspective. Some artists learned techniques through observations while others relied on mathematical rules that were being formed. Principles emerged including the understanding that images get smaller as they recede while images are larger in the forefront of the picture.