Apologies for my negligence in the past weeks on the illusion front. I promise I have something awesome to make up for it. Donna stumbled across a 17th century manuscript investigating mathmatical properties of perspective. La Pespective Curieuse by Jean François Niceron is a massive volume containing formulae and musings on drawing in perspective, reflections, distortions and projection.
Below are some of the plates contained within the work. Mathematically stunning work.
The precision of these drawings is absolutely stunning. It’s not like he had rulers handily available to measure that stuff out (did he? 17th century…). Regardless, a precise hand and a good eye.
Top one is definitely my favorite.