Linear Perspective

3 Pages 634 Words

Use of perspective in art finds its root in one man, Filippo Brunelleschi. Although we don’t know for sure, it is likely that Brunelleschi also invented linear, or scientific perspective. Donatello’s “The Feast of Herod” is the earliest surviving example of scientific perspective, which is established through the use of a “vanishing point”, an imaginary single point on the page in which all the parallel lines meet. Donatello’s Feast of Herod was a groundbreaking work by that day’s standards, and a complete failure in the fulfillment of compositional requirements of traditional classical or medieval standards. The focal point of the piece, the presentation of St. John’s head to Herod, is in the far left corner, and the crowd watching is clustered into the right corner. Upon examination of the action, however, Donatello’s intention is clear; by placing the people in this way, the gesture and emotion of the scene is more implicit and effective. It is also more clearly established that the scene does not end at the focal point, it in fact continues off into every direction, an impression more clearly made with his use of scientific perspective. This “window” view into the scene was a radical step, and would influence how the picture plane was to be seen from that point on. Equally powerful is the vast expanse of the almost surreal background. The spatial clarity, established by the use of mathematically precise perspective, is the influence of Brunelleschi. To me, art has never been about expressing oneself or conveying a message to others, but simply creating an image for the sake of beauty and perfection.
The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio is Baroque art style. It is a painting depicting the climactic moment of Matthew’s calling. Caravaggio deftly portrays the psychological action and reactions of the moment. We see Jesus pointing to the tax collector Matthew, who gestures with disbelief toward himse...