Why read The Science of Art?

Book cover of The Science of Art: Optical Themes in Western Art from Brunelleschi to Seurat

Book description

In this pathbreaking and richly illustrated book, Martin Kemp examines the major optically oriented examples of artistic theory and practice from Brunelleschi's invention of perspective and its exploitation by Leonardo and Durer to the beginnings of photography. In a discussion of color theory, Kemp traces two main traditions of color…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Science of Art as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Philip Steadman

Author

Martin Kemp is the world's leading expert on the use of perspective, optical tools, and scientific knowledge in art. This encyclopaedic book follows developments from the Italian Renaissance to the nineteenth century, with a great wealth of illustrations, from Brunelleschi and Alberti to the colour theories of Goethe and Chevreul. I re-read and refer to this book repeatedly - as I am sure do many others - and am always finding new insights. Kemp's explanations are always clear and penetrating, even when the writers and artists he is writing about are not.

From Philip's list on perspective, optics, and realistic illusion in art.