Smith, Thomas [Hrsg.]: The Art Of Drawing In Its Various Branches: Exemplified In A Course Of Twenty-Eight progressive Lessons, Calculated To Afford Those Who Are Unacquainted With The Art, The Means Of Acquiring A Competent Knowledge Without The Aid Of A Master ; Being The Only Work Of The Kind In Which The Principles Of Effect Are Explained In A Clear, Methodical, And At The Same Time Familiar Style. Illustrated With Coloured Designs And Numerous Wood Engravings (London, 1827)

PERSPECTIVE*.

LESSON I.

Perspective is the art of representing any object
on a plane surface as it would appear to the spectator.
The best exemplification of this definition is to imagine
the object to be seen through a pane of glass placed up-
right-between it and the spectator, who, keeping his eye
fixed in one place, traces on the glass with a pencil the out-
line of the objects seen through it, which, when finished,
will be a true perspective view of those objects.

To do this by geometrical rules is called Perspective.

The first thing to be learnt in perspective, is to under-
stand the meaning of the different terms, of which the
following are the definitions :

The original object is the object intended to be repre-
sented : thus, if you be going to make a perspective view
of Westminster-Abbey, the abbey, together with those
houses and other objects which you intend to introduce
into your sketch, will constitute the original object;
whilst the different sides of the buildings, Sfc., will be
what are termed original planes, and the lines of those
buildings original lines.

o O

* Should the student be very young, or have a strong dislike
to mathematical studies, he may pass over the following lessons
on Perspective, and leave them till the last,