Leonardo da Vinci described three aspects of perspective in painting: 1) the size of objects diminishing with distance (linear perspective), 2) colors changing farther from the eye (atmospheric perspective), and 3) less detailed finishing of distant objects (atmospheric perspective). Filippo Brunelleschi is credited with developing linear perspective around 1425 using a single vanishing point. Perspective techniques include the horizon line, vanishing points, orthogonal and transversal lines, diminution, foreshortening, one-point, two-point, and three-point perspectives, and atmospheric perspective to convey depth.

1. "Perspective is to painting what the bridle is to the horse, the
rudder to a ship.”
-Leonardo da Vinci
Linear Perspective

2. Art of the Middle
Ages
What parts of this painting
look most realistic to you?
What parts look least lifelike?
Which objects or people seem
closest and most distant in
the painting?
What clues does the artist
give that one object is further
away than another?
Wilton Diptych (c. 1395–99)

3. Filippo Brunelleschi
The first known
paintings in linear
perspective were made
by Brunelleschi in about
1425.
He devised a method for
representing objects in
depth on a flat surface by
means of using a single
vanishing point

4. Aspects of Perspective
According to Leonardo da Vinci, there are three
aspects to perspective:
The first has to do with how the size of objects
seems to diminish according to distance (linear);
The second, the manner in which colors change the
farther away they are from the eye (atmospheric);
The third defines how objects ought to be finished
less carefully the farther away they are
(atmospheric).

5. Horizon Line a.k.a.
Eye Level
A horizontal line across the
picture.
Always at eye level.
In art, we tend to use the
term 'eye level', rather than
'horizon' as in many
pictures, the horizon is
frequently hidden by walls,
buildings, trees, hills etc.

6. Vanishing Points
Vanishing points are dots
on the eye-level where
parallel lines seem to
converge and disappear.

7. Orthogonal lines
The line you draw from
the corner of an object to
the vanishing point.
Establishes the illusion of
a perpendicular line going
into the distance.
Should always be drawn
lightly at first because
usually, most of an
orthogonal will be erased.

8. Transversal lines
Always at right angles to the orthogonals.
Parallel to the picture plane and to one another.
Form the nearest and furthest edges of a rectangle as it recedes
from view.

9. Diminution
Objects appear smaller as their distance from the
observer increases.

10. Foreshortening
Occurs when an object
appears compressed
when seen from a
particular viewpoint,
and the effect of
perspective causes
distortion.

11. One Point Perspective
Uses a single
vanishing point to
draw an object.
Only the receding
orthogonal lines
change their
angles.

12. Christ Giving the Keys to Peter by Perugino.

13. Two Point Perspective
Uses two sets of orthogonal lines and two
vanishing points to draw each object.

14. Place de l’Europe on a Rainy Day, by Gustave Caillebotte

15. Three Point Perspective
Uses three sets of orthogonal
lines and three vanishing
points to draw each object.
Most commonly used when
drawing buildings viewed
from a low or high eye-level.
Vertical transversal lines now
form a third set of orthogonal
lines.

16. Ascending and Descending, M.C. Escher

17. atmospheric perspective
Gives the illusion
of depth by
lightening values,
softening details
and textures,
reducing contrast,
and neutralizing
colors in objects
that are further
away.
Frans Koppelaar, Landscape near Bologna, 2001