The three principal methods of representing objects are orthographic, isometrical and perspective projection. Linear perspective is the only one with which we deal.
An Illustrated Summary
One may successfully copy a picture without a knowledge of perspective, just as a carpenter may, if he has plans before him, erect an intricately constructed building without a knowledge of architecture; but no man could properly prepare such plans without any acquaintance whatever with the rudiments of the laws of architecture. One cannot paint well without some knowledge of drawing. One cannot draw more than the simplest picture without some knowledge of perspective.
The horizon of perspective, the horizon line, is more readily understood if you will imagine yourself standing at the sea shore gazing out upon the water. Where the sky apparently meets the water, is the horizon. Seen in a picture, from the level of a low beach, the line appears low down, under the middle of the picture. Now, go upon some promontory, and the horizon seems to go up with you, and in a picture would appear above the middle of the picture.
Imagine a large number of high poles placed upright in
the sea, each pole twenty feet above the water's level, extending at right angles to the shore far out at sea. (Fig. i8.)' Now, if the line of poles comes within the range of your vision, each one that is more distant from you than the other will, in turn, seem to get smaller and smaller until the last one seems to disappear, as in Fig. 18. Row out on the sea until the poles are at right angles with the line of vision and the poles will appear as in Fig. 19. Now row back to shore,
We will suppose that another line of posts has been placed at right angles to the first mentioned. Their arrangement is shown in the plane diagram in Fig. 20. If you stand a little to the left of the nearest pole they will appear as seen in Fig. 21.
We will now suppose that the second row of posts has been taken up again and transplanted parallel with the first row, but a hundred feet away. Stand half way between them, but crouch close to the ground, and they will appear as in Fig. 22. The horizon will seem to have been lowered with you. Now stand on an elevation and look again. The horizon will seem to have risen with you. (Fig. 23.) Return to the place where you first stood, a rod or so to the left, and gaze again; the poles will appear as in Fig. 24.
Note: The horizon line in each of the figures is indicated by an A.
Sections
- Action Drawing
- Advice To Teachers
- Beginners Instructions
- Blocking In
- Clay Modeling
- Copying By Triangulation
- Decorative Ornamental Art
- Drawing From Nature
- Early Exercises
- Elementary Lines
- Elementary Perspective
- Expression Emotion
- Foreshortening
- Geometrical Form
- How To Draw Animals
- How To Draw Cartoons
- How To Draw Charcoal Crayon
- How To Draw Flowers
- How To Draw Women Men Children
- Lettering
- Light And Shade
- Materials For Drawing
- Models Measurements Proportions
- Outlines For Beginners
- Paper Folding Cutting
- Pen And Ink Drawing
- Principles Of Composition
- Simple Story Pictures
- Solid Black Effects
- Stimulating Imagination
- Tracing Transferring
- Two Handed Exercises