On Painting
On Painting by Leon Battista Alberti, published by National Geographic Books on July 2, 1991, is a reprint edition comprising 112 pages in English. This influential work, originally written in 1435, presents Alberti’s revolutionary theories on perspective that transformed the understanding of art during the Renaissance. The book outlines essential principles of distance, dimension, and proportion, guiding painters on the effective use of composition, representation, light, and color to achieve aesthetically pleasing results.
Readers will find a detailed exploration of the moral and artistic prerequisites necessary for a successful painter, reflecting Alberti’s belief in the harmony found in nature. The text has significantly impacted notable Italian Renaissance artists and continues to serve as a foundational theory in the study of art. With its focus on techniques and the history of painting, this edition provides valuable insights for those interested in the evolution of artistic practices and the contributions of individual artists throughout history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Artist, architect, poet and philosopher, Leon Battista Alberti revolutionized the history of art with his theories of perspective in On Painting (1435). Inspired by the order and beauty inherent in nature, his groundbreaking work sets out the principles of distance, dimension and proportion; instructs the painter on how to use the rules of composition, representation, light and colour to create work that is graceful and pleasing to the eye; and stipulates the moral and artistic pre-requisites of the successful painter. On Painting had an immediate and profound influence on Italian Renaissance artists including Ghiberti, Fra Angelico and Veneziano and on later figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, and remains a compelling theory of art.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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