aerial perspective
- The perception of depth in nature can be enhanced by the appearance of
atmospheric haze. Although this haze is most commonly humidity
(or cloudiness), it could be rain or snow, smoke, or any other
kind of vapor. Aerial perspective is the portrayal of that atmospheric
haze -- one means to adding to an illusion
of depth in depicting space
on a flat surface.
It is achieved by using less focus,
along with bluer, lighter, and duller hues
for the distant spaces and objects
depicted in a picture.
Be careful not to confuse aerial perspective with aerial
view.
One of the first artists to use
this technique was Masaccio (Italian, 1401?-1428). Aerial perspective
is also referred to as atmospheric perspective.
Examples of pictures in which artists have used aerial perspective:
Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa (La Joconde) (1479 - d. before 1550), c. 1503-1506, oil on wood panel, 77 x 53 cm, Louvre. Many artists have created their own versions of this image. See landscape, Renaissance, sfumato, and xenophobia.
T. Worthington Whittredge (American, 1820-1910), Fight Below the Battlements, 1849, oil on canvas, Kresge Art Museum. Wittredge was a member of the Hudson River School of painters. Toward the horizon on the left side of this painting, we can see Whittredge's use of aerial perspective.
Look more closely at this
Compare its depth of color to that seen in
Georges Seurat (French, 1859-1891), Bathing at Asnières (Une Baignade, Asnières), 1883-1884 (retouched 1887), 79 x 118 1/2 inches, National Gallery, London. Also see Neo-Impressionism.
Also see aerial view.
