La pratica della perspettiva, opera molto vtile a pittori, a scultori & ad architetti

Abstract

First edition, first issue. Treatise of the rulse of perspective specifically designed for Italian artists and architects, as previous quality treatises on the subject were in German, French and Latin. Barbaro (1514-1570) borrowed heavily from Serlio and from an unpublished treatise by Piero della Francesca for this work. However, the work stand on its own as an important advance in the understanding and practical use of perspective and brought these ideas to a broader audience. La Pratica della perspettiva is divided into three parts: the first part discusses the principles of perspective and graphic representations. The second part breaks down the five regular polyhedrons, continuing the work of Leonardo and Pacioli. The last, and perhaps most important section, offers a study of scenography, dimensions of the human body, optical illusions, discussions of colour and shadow, and depictions of drawing intruments including the first analytic discussion of the camera obscura.