DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19949#0015
DISTANCE OF THE PICTURE.
11
termining how much of the landscape or the objects he
is viewing, should be contained within his proposed
picture.
The distance of the picture,—or distance of the eye
from the plane of the picture (which is the same thing),
—means the distance intervening between the spectator's
position, and that point on the ground directly in front of
him, where the picture, which he is about to make, ought
properly to commence. Upon the choice of a proper and
judicious distance, the beauty of his work will in a great
measure depend.
Suppose the landscape to be viewed from the point
E (Tig. 1), then that portion of the scene which the eye
can easily take in, without moving the head, and without
the slightest strain upon the optic nerve, will constitute
the picture from that point.
Now, under this condition, the spectator will find that
he does not distinctly see the ground immediately before
him, but that he obtains a perfectly easy view of it only
at some distance from his position at E. It is the space
included between the point E (where he is placed), and
the supposed point alluded to, and here marked S, that
establishes the required distance of the picture, that is, the
distance of the eye from the proposed picture. For instance,
let S be that point on the ground immediately in front of
the eye, and that if through S a straight line be supposed
to be drawn, perpendicular to the distance ES, this line will
11
termining how much of the landscape or the objects he
is viewing, should be contained within his proposed
picture.
The distance of the picture,—or distance of the eye
from the plane of the picture (which is the same thing),
—means the distance intervening between the spectator's
position, and that point on the ground directly in front of
him, where the picture, which he is about to make, ought
properly to commence. Upon the choice of a proper and
judicious distance, the beauty of his work will in a great
measure depend.
Suppose the landscape to be viewed from the point
E (Tig. 1), then that portion of the scene which the eye
can easily take in, without moving the head, and without
the slightest strain upon the optic nerve, will constitute
the picture from that point.
Now, under this condition, the spectator will find that
he does not distinctly see the ground immediately before
him, but that he obtains a perfectly easy view of it only
at some distance from his position at E. It is the space
included between the point E (where he is placed), and
the supposed point alluded to, and here marked S, that
establishes the required distance of the picture, that is, the
distance of the eye from the proposed picture. For instance,
let S be that point on the ground immediately in front of
the eye, and that if through S a straight line be supposed
to be drawn, perpendicular to the distance ES, this line will