The “Axial” (“Vanishing Axis”) Perspective

Abstract

The present paper approaches the axial perspective, a method of spatial representation that precedes the invention of the Renaissance geometrical perspective. Despite being typical to ancient Greek and Roman art, the axial perspective can also be identified during the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance period and it represents the first form of systematic convergence of parallel lines. At the same time, the paper presents Erwin Panofsky's theories on this spatial suggestion method. Trying to offer it a scientific foundation, the researcher builds a system that he calls "the vanishing axis perspective" and puts forward a series of arguments in favour of the existence of such a perspective. Although the axial perspectival constructions imply awkward superimpositions of planes that might seem geometrically inaccurate, this method of spatial structuring of the image constitutes an important stage in the process of identifying solutions for the faithful reproduction of concrete reality and an essential stepin the development process of thevanishing point perspective.

Keywords

• axial perspective
• vanishing axis perspective
• space representation
• ancient Greek art
• ancient Roman art
• optics