Hans Holbein the younger, The French Ambassadors, 1533

The same painting, approached nearly from the left side, close to the plane of the painting

• In the 16th century, paintings like the one above, whose images are hidden unless viewed properly, became popular in Europe. A shortwhile later, a mirror form became popular in China.
• Anamorphoses: In Greek, ana=back, morphe=form.
• The art of anamorphosis originated from optical correction in architecture, which has been around since the time of Vitruvius. For example: making letters at the top of a column larger than those at the bottom, so they all appear to be the same size.
• Renaissance anamorphic art = test of how far perspective theory could go
• Still done today-- freeware!
• Practical uses - road signs that can only be read only by those drivers who should see them.

William Scrots, King Edward VI, c 1546	The same painting approached nearly from the right side

Samuel van Hoogstraten, Peep Show Box, c. 1660 Created through manipulation of perspective and its distorted anamorphic form.

Photo from above of the courtyard of the Continental Hotel, New Orleans To see the image as intended, one must look at the mirrored cylinder.

• Cool web site: shows several anamorphic images, both as they appear viewed straight-on, and as they appear viewed properly. More cool anamorphic art - pavement art (The first several pictures are not anamorphic, but if you scrol down you get to a section that describes itself as anamorphic)

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