On the Perspective of Painting

An illuminating comparative translation of Piero della Francesca’s pioneering Renaissance work on scientific perspective, showcasing his groundbreaking methods and influence on art and architecture.

On the Perspective of Painting is the first English translation of Piero della Francesca’s renowned De Prospectiva Pingendi, complete with many of della Francesca’s drawings as well as never-before-seen drawings. Written between 1475 and 1481, De Prospectiva Pingendi was the first comprehensive manual on perspective and architecture; its importance and contribution to art and architecture cannot be overstated. Notable for its use of scientific and mathematical methods to depict objects, including the human head, della Francesca’s work anticipated modern 3D design techniques by centuries.

In this new, comprehensive reconstruction and comparative translation of the pioneering Renaissance work on scientific perspective, leading art scholar Rocco Sinisgalli’s painstaking work reveals della Francesca's groundbreaking methods while establishing an unprecedented foundational cornerstone of Renaissance art and science and introducing a new discipline of representation.

The original text survives in eight manuscripts, four in Vernacular and four in Latin. Sinisgalli’s new edition leverages all eight, providing detailed diagrams and translations, showcasing della Francesca's revolutionary approach to perspective. This book meticulously guides readers through the construction of three-dimensional objects, offering highly detailed, step-by-step instructions. An essential read for architects, geometry scholars, art historians, and artists seeking to understand the foundations of perspective in Western art.

Rocco Sinisgalli is a retired Professor of Sciences of Representation in Art and Architecture in the Faculty of Architecture at the Sapienza University of Rome. He is the author of more than twenty books, including A History of the Perspective Scene from the Renaissance to the Baroque, Leonardo and the Divine Proportion, and Leon Battista Alberti: On Painting.