DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18826#0074
54 ON PERSPECTIVE. [lECT. II,
If the center of the perfpecrive fyftem adopted in a
compofition be about the middle of a picture, the dis-
tance may be fnorter than if it were at either fide of
the piece ; fmce before objects become fufficientlv re-
mote from the center to appear diftorted, the picture
ends: on the contrary, when the center is near one
fide of a picture, a longer diftance will be mod advan-
tageous to objecrs fituated further from it.
I do not fee much difficulty in determining, geome-
trically, the diftance requidte, if what I lately offered
be juft; for, if to fur-vey a perfon five feet in height
twice five feet is a neceiTary interval, to double the
height of the eye in treating fmaller fubjects, or, by
increafing the diffance, to fuit the apparent dimenfions
of principal objects in larger pieces, is no great trou-
ble. But, unfortunately, geometry is an unaccom-
modating kind ot fcience, and very adhefive to prin-
ciples it has once affumed ; therefore I wifh to leave
the matter rather to judgment, than to geometry.
The general nature of a fubjecr, the particular
natures of objects introduced, the fituation for 'which
the performance is adapted, the fource of its light,
and the principal effect of its compofition, are all fo
many varieties, againft which there is no provid-
ing by rule: a miniature picture, is one thing; a
ceiling piece, is another: that which well becomes a
church, ill fuits a cabinet : that which occupies half
a pannel in a parlour, is certainly diftincr from a
vifta deception in a park ; and requires no lefs dif-
tinciion of management. But, having fixed the height
of the eye, and having chofen a difiance from whence
the
If the center of the perfpecrive fyftem adopted in a
compofition be about the middle of a picture, the dis-
tance may be fnorter than if it were at either fide of
the piece ; fmce before objects become fufficientlv re-
mote from the center to appear diftorted, the picture
ends: on the contrary, when the center is near one
fide of a picture, a longer diftance will be mod advan-
tageous to objecrs fituated further from it.
I do not fee much difficulty in determining, geome-
trically, the diftance requidte, if what I lately offered
be juft; for, if to fur-vey a perfon five feet in height
twice five feet is a neceiTary interval, to double the
height of the eye in treating fmaller fubjects, or, by
increafing the diffance, to fuit the apparent dimenfions
of principal objects in larger pieces, is no great trou-
ble. But, unfortunately, geometry is an unaccom-
modating kind ot fcience, and very adhefive to prin-
ciples it has once affumed ; therefore I wifh to leave
the matter rather to judgment, than to geometry.
The general nature of a fubjecr, the particular
natures of objects introduced, the fituation for 'which
the performance is adapted, the fource of its light,
and the principal effect of its compofition, are all fo
many varieties, againft which there is no provid-
ing by rule: a miniature picture, is one thing; a
ceiling piece, is another: that which well becomes a
church, ill fuits a cabinet : that which occupies half
a pannel in a parlour, is certainly diftincr from a
vifta deception in a park ; and requires no lefs dif-
tinciion of management. But, having fixed the height
of the eye, and having chofen a difiance from whence
the