Leonardo recognized that one way to paint scenes realistically was to observe with great care how animals, people, and landscapes really looked. He was also careful to notice the differences in how an object looked when it was close by and when it was farther away, and when it was seen in bright light and in dim light. He turned his attention to nature during long walks. He wrote detailed notes on his observations and made sketches of the things he saw in his notebooks throughout his life.
Imagine:
You are Leonardo's apprentice. The Master has asked you to visit these two places and to observe them carefully so that you will be able to paint them accurately. Look closely and thoughtfully and use the questions to help you see the world as Leonardo might have done.
- What do you observe in each scene?
- Which objects and people in each scene appear closest? Which appear furthest away?
- How do the sizes of people and objects appear to change when they are further away?
Playing Around with Size and Distance
- Compare the details you can see in nearby and distant rocks and plants in the first scene.
- How well can you see the hands of nearby and distant people in the second scene?
- How do the colors of the more distant mountains and buildings differ from those of the nearer mountains and buildings?
Investigating Aerial Perspective
