leonardo’s perspective kristina anthony, nsf scholar, 2002-03

Leonardo’s Perspective

Kristina Anthony, NSF Scholar, 2002-03

http://MathInScience.info 2


• Artist

• Scientist

• Mathematician

• Inventor

• Architect



• Leonardo believed “The eye was the perfect instrument for learning the laws of nature and perspective, and the artist is the perfect person to illustrate them.”

http://mexplaza.udg.mx/wm/paint/auth/vinci/vinci.disciple.jpg



Linear PerspectiveLinear Perspective can be defined as the

illusion of creating dimensions and distances on a flat surface such as a canvas

or a wall.



Annunciation – completed by Leonardo at the age of 21


Leonardo’s Perspective Vocabulary

• Horizon Line – The line across the canvas that represents the line where the sky meets the ground.

• Vanishing Point – A point located on the horizon line (usually the center). A point where all lines run toward the horizon. Usually you think of train tracks disappearing into the horizon or what we call the vanishing point.

• Orthogonal lines – Lines that help the viewer connect points on the canvas to the vanishing points. It helps the artist to put objects into perspective.



Vanishing PointHorizon

Orthogonal Lines



• Madonna of the Rocks• Can you locate the

horizon line, vanishing point, and orthogonal lines?

• Be careful. They do not always have to be directly in view.



• To have a complete understanding of linear perspective, Leonardo had to have an understanding of proportionality of objects.

• Objects do not appear to be the same at different distances.

• Using orthogonal lines, Leonardo was able to recreate the proportionality of objects at different distances.

• We will recreate Leonardo’s perspective.



Sketches of a horse by

Leonardo

These were to be used to make a statue 4 times the height of a normal

horse

leonardo’s perspective kristina anthony, nsf scholar, 2002-03

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