The Renaissance

New Techniques

New materials were important, but around the same time that oil paint was being invented up in Flanders, the Italians were inventing a new technique that would revolutionize painting: perspective.

There is a trick to drawing three-dimensional figures in two- dimensional space. Actually, there are a number of tricks (vanishing points, horizon lines, and so on). The tricks are mechanical and mathematical. They can be taught. Without knowledge of them, it is nearly impossible to create an effective illusion of depth and substance.

The new technique was developed in Florence at the beginning of the 15th century. The technique spread rapidly, and one can see in the paintings how exciting and liberating perspective was for the artists. In the works of Masaccio and others, we can see the artist playing with perspective, viewing the world from odd angles, to enjoy the effect and to demonstrate his command of the technique. Artists had discovered that they could create convincing illusions, and they had no end of fun with their new power.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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