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Linear Perspective is a geometric method of representing on paper the way that objects appear to get smaller and closer together, the further away they are.

The invention of linear perspective is generally attributed to the Florentine architect Brunelleschi, and the ideas continued to be developed and used by Renaissance artists, notably Piero Della Francesca and Andrea Mantegna. The first book to include a treatise on Perspective, 'On Painting' was published by Leon Battista Alberti in 1436.

Imagine driving along a very straight desert on a grassy plain - the road, the fences and power-poles all diminishing towards a single spot far ahead of you. That's single-point perspective. Single- or one-point perspective is a simplest method of making objects look three-dimensional. It is often used for interior views or trompe l'oeil (trick-the-eye) effects. Objects must be placed to that the front sides are parallel to the picture plane, with the side edges receding to a single point. Take a look at Da Vinci's Study for Adoration of the Magi to see the effect. (notice how the building is placed so that it faces the viewer, with the stairs and side walls diminishing towards a single point in the center.)

Two-point perspective is slightly more complex, as both the front and back edges, and side edges, of an object must be diminished towards vanishing points. Two-point perspective is often used when drawing buildings in the landscape. The effect can be carried even further, with three-point perspective used to create impressive visual effects, such as a view from a skyscraper.

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