- Single point, scientific linear perspective
A single point linear perspective is defined as the scientific system of creating one or several illusions of depth on a flat surface. On this technique, the lines which are parallel in any drawing or painting apply the system convergence in a vanishing point that is single on the horizon line within the composition. An example of the scientific liner perspective is when one stands on s road that is straight and looks down the road, you will find out that the road becomes narrow as you go off the distance.
- Contrapposto stance
Contrapposto stance is defined as a canonical stance whereby the figure is standing with all the body, and the weight is supported by the leg that is usually one, and the arms fall in the opposite direction hence creating a natural-seeming twist in the torso. This technique was invented by the ancient Greeks and applied in Italy (“Contrapposto.”). An example is the marble statue of Hermes with the infant Dionysus in Olympia.
- Humanism
Humanism is the stance of philosophy whereby most of the artworks emphasize on the agency and the value of human beings. It also emphasizes on the character, worth, and cultural position of human beings in society. Mona, Lisa is an example of an artwork that illustrates humanism.
- Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is a technique that was used in the drawings of Italy, whereby the artists applied the light and shade in their drawings. It refers to the application of the shadow and light, especially when creating the illusion of light from a source that is specific hence shining on the objects or the figures created. An example of the chiaroscuro is Peasant Lighting a Candle with an Ember, Angelo Inganni.
Part II: Essay
One Point Perspective theory example
The Isaac panel from the Gates of Paradise, Lorenzo Ghiberti, bef. 1452
One point perspective theory in a technique in drawing or painting that illustrates how the objects look smaller when they get further away. Those objects tend to converge towards a single point that appears to be vanishing on the horizon line (“One Point Perspective.”). The objects are drawn in a way that they appear 3-dimensional and more realistic. The one-point perspective technique was applied during the late gothic and also during the early renaissance. Lorenzo Ghiberti came up with the diagram called The Isaac panel from the Gates of Paradise that applied the one-point perspective technique (“The Gates of Paradise: Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Renaissance Masterpiece.”). The drawing was made during the early renaissance in 1452. This paper will, therefore, analyze Lorenzo’s drawing based on the depiction of the space in work, explaining the extent that Lorenzo used the space in relation to the subject, message, and also the reception of the artwork by the audience.
Lorenzo’s work depicts the application of a one-point perspective whereby he used space to show how the image appears as three dimensions when viewed from the far. Lorenzo draws the people on the traditional religious attire, holding and Virgin Mary holding a baby boy. Two men hold the swords illustrating how the baby boy is protected. Lorenzo applies the one-point perspective, whereby one can see all the parts of the image as a 3-D object. When you look at the image, you can see as if the backside of the building is near, but in the real sense, it is very far. The woman standing at the back seems to be leaning on the back wall, but that is not the case. There is some big space left behind (“One Point Perspective.”). The image shows that using the one-point perspective, you can view many things around the house as if they are near, but in the real sense, they are far. The image communicates a lot in a single diagram. Apart from what the people surrounding the Virgin Mary, there are other things that the artists use to communicate the message and which are in the building but nor near the people around (“Notes.”). This means that the artists may narrow down space in a single drawing to illustrate many features of the drawing, and this happens only when the one-point perspective is applied. In the definition, it is clear that the one-point perspective is all about bringing features that are far in a drawing to appear in three dimensions and help communicate the image.
From the image, it is clear that the knowledge of space is the main subject of illustrating the image. There are many things that the audience or viewers can use to describe the image. The artists find it necessary to combine all those features in one diagram to make it simple for the audience. Application of a one-point perspective helps in drawing all the necessary features of the image, and that is why it is simple to explain Lorenzo’s image. In the picture, you can see every part of the person in the building and also behind the room (“One Point Perspective.”). If the one-point perspective was not used, you could be only seeing the only people who are in front of the image. For that matter, Lorenzo has included all the twelve people in one single image and used the available space to illustrate the image, meaning that he has applied one point perspective theory.
Work Cited
“Contrapposto.” Artsy – Discover & Buy Art, www.artsy.net/gene/contrapposto.
“Notes.” Cambridge Core, www.cambridge.org/core/books/lorenzo-ghibertis-gates-of-paradise/notes/B57A34409C4D0A3605AC0CEC85365E82/core-reader.
“One Point Perspective.” Free Art Lessons and Tutorials – TheVirtualInstructor.com, thevirtualinstructor.com/onepointperspective.html
“The Gates of Paradise: Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Renaissance Masterpiece.” Downtown Chicago’s #1 Museum | The Art Institute of Chicago, archive.artic.edu/ghiberti/themes.html.