The Theory and Practice of Perspective

The Theory and Practice of
Perspective, by

George Adolphus Storey
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Title: The Theory and Practice of Perspective
Author: George Adolphus Storey

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Language: English
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Henry Frowde, M.A. Publisher to the University of Oxford London,
Edinburgh, New York Toronto and Melbourne
THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PERSPECTIVE
by
G. A. STOREY, A.R.A.
Teacher of Perspective at the Royal Academy

[Illustration: 'QUÎ FIT?']
Oxford At the Clarendon Press 1910
Oxford Printed at the Clarendon Press by Horace Hart, M.A. Printer to
the University

DEDICATED to
SIR EDWARD J. POYNTER Baronet

President of the Royal Academy
in Token of Friendship and Regard

PREFACE
It is much easier to understand and remember a thing when a reason is
given for it, than when we are merely shown how to do it without being
told why it is so done; for in the latter case, instead of being assisted by
reason, our real help in all study, we have to rely upon memory or our
power of imitation, and to do simply as we are told without thinking
about it. The consequence is that at the very first difficulty we are left
to flounder about in the dark, or to remain inactive till the master comes
to our assistance.
Now in this book it is proposed to enlist the reasoning faculty from the
very first: to let one problem grow out of another and to be dependent
on the foregoing, as in geometry, and so to explain each thing we do
that there shall be no doubt in the mind as to the correctness of the
proceeding. The student will thus gain the power of finding out any
new problem for himself, and will therefore acquire a true knowledge
of perspective.

CONTENTS
BOOK I Page THE NECESSITY OF THE STUDY OF
PERSPECTIVE TO PAINTERS, SCULPTORS, AND ARCHITECTS
1 WHAT IS PERSPECTIVE? 6 THE THEORY OF PERSPECTIVE: I.
Definitions 13 II. The Point of Sight, the Horizon, and the Point of
Distance. 15 III. Point of Distance 16 IV. Perspective of a Point, Visual
Rays, &c. 20 V. Trace and Projection 21 VI. Scientific Definition of
Perspective 22 RULES: VII. The Rules and Conditions of Perspective
24 VIII. A Table or Index of the Rules of Perspective 40
BOOK II

THE PRACTICE OF PERSPECTIVE: IX. The Square in Parallel
Perspective 42 X. The Diagonal 43 XI. The Square 43 XII. Geometrical
and Perspective Figures Contrasted 46 XIII. Of Certain Terms made
use of in Perspective 48 XIV. How to Measure Vanishing or Receding
Lines 49 XV. How to Place Squares in Given Positions 50 XVI. How
to Draw Pavements, &c. 51 XVII. Of Squares placed Vertically and at
Different Heights, or the Cube in Parallel Perspective 53 XVIII. The
Transposed Distance 53 XIX. The Front View of the Square and of the
Proportions of Figures at Different Heights 54 XX. Of Pictures that are
Painted according to the Position they are to Occupy 59 XXI. Interiors
62 XXII. The Square at an Angle of 45° 64 XXIII. The Cube at an
Angle of 45° 65 XXIV. Pavements Drawn by Means of Squares at 45°
66 XXV. The Perspective Vanishing Scale 68 XXVI. The Vanishing
Scale can be Drawn to any Point on the Horizon 69 XXVII.
Application of Vanishing Scales to Drawing Figures 71 XXVIII. How
to Determine the Heights of Figures on a Level Plane 71 XXIX. The
Horizon above the Figures 72 XXX. Landscape Perspective 74 XXXI.
Figures of Different Heights. The Chessboard 74 XXXII. Application
of the Vanishing Scale to Drawing Figures at an Angle when their
Vanishing Points are Inaccessible or Outside the Picture 77 XXXIII.
The Reduced Distance. How to Proceed when the Point of Distance is
Inaccessible 77 XXXIV. How to Draw a Long Passage or Cloister by
Means of the Reduced