Brunelleschi's Demonstration on the Principle of Perspective
Fillipo Brunelleschi was a renowned Italian artist, sculptor, engineer and architect of the Italian Renaissance. During the early stages of his architectural career, Brunelleschi made a rediscovery of the concepts and principles of one point linear perspective, which he used intensively and extensively for the ornamentation of his architectural ventures. Before Brunelleschi, others had understood the importance of perspective, but up until then, no one had succeeded in devising a mathematical formula for one point perspective. His discovery, use, and demonstration of one point linear perspective proved to be a major turning point in Renaissance art and architecture, and unbeknown to Brunelleschi, his achievements were to have a great impact on the Renaissance, and those who followed him. Perspective is defined as the method of representing threedimensional objects in recession on a two-dimensional surface in order to give the same impression of a relative position, size, or distance as the actual objects do when viewed from a particular point.1 Brunelleschi understood the importance of this concept, and desired to demonstrate how indispensable it could be. This essay will discuss the influences that played an instrumental part in Brunelleschi's achievements, additionally it will discuss how Brunelleschi first demonstrated his formula of linear perspective.
Fillipo Brunelleschi was the second of three children born in 1377, in Florence, Italy. His father Brunellesco Di Lippo worked as a public official, and his mother was Giuliana Spini. Brunelleschi's father Brunellesco had noticed his sons artistic ability from a very young age, and encouraged him to further his skills by writing, and using the abacus. In 1392, at the age of 15, Brunelleschi took up an apprenticeship as a goldsmith, where he learnt the principles of design. During this period Brunelleschi met Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, a medical doctor and merchant who taught him the principles of geometry.
Fillipo Brunelleschi was the second of three children born in 1377, in Florence, Italy. His father Brunellesco Di Lippo worked as a public official, and his mother was Giuliana Spini. Brunelleschi's father Brunellesco had noticed his sons artistic ability from a very young age, and encouraged him to further his skills by writing, and using the abacus. In 1392, at the age of 15, Brunelleschi took up an apprenticeship as a goldsmith, where he learnt the principles of design. During this period Brunelleschi met Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, a medical doctor and merchant who taught him the principles of geometry.