History

Art history leading to the first camera.

Part One of the BBC presentation of David Hockney’s Secret Knowledge where he investigates how past artists may have used optical instruments to enhance the realism of their paintings.  Very interesting indeed.

Part Two of David Hockney’s Secret Knowledge.

Did Johannes Vermeer use a camera obscura to create his sublime paintings?  Maybe so, according to this article from essentialvermeer.com.

Did Johannes Vermeer use a camera obscura to create his sublime paintings?  Maybe not, according to this video.

This site has some very interesting information re: Color Vision & Art.

The use of perspective to create heightened realism in painting was a modern innovation during the Quattrocento when Paolo Uccello began to incorporate it into his work. In The Battle of San Romano it seeks a home within a sumptuous decorative style.