Chap. IV. PERSPECTIVE.

813
;ill parallel planes will have the same vanisliiiin; line. Similarly, all lines lyintj in
the same plane will have their vanishing ])()ints in the vai.ishin<; line of that plane.
All planes or lines m an original object which are situated parallel to the plane of
delineation can have no vanishing lines or vanishing points on the plane of de-
lineation.
16. A visual ray is an imaginary right line, drawn from the eye to any point of
observation. EA and EY, &c. are visual rays, being right lines drawn from the
eye to the points A and Y. Hence a number of visual rays directed to every jiart
of an object will form a pyramid of rays, whereof the eye is the apex, and the object
the base.
17. A perspective delineatinn, then, is the section of a pyramid of rays producing a
perspective projection, and is most commonly considered as being made between the
object and the eye. But the section of rays may be taken when they are extended
beyond the object ; in which case such a section is called a projected perspective re-
presentation of the object.
2407. It will then be seen that a knowledge of perspective is, as Addison has said, a
knowledge of
"
the science by which things are ranged in picture, according to their ap-
pearance in their real situation."
240S. The situation of the objects being given with the plan and position of the plane of
delineation and the height and distance of the eye of the observer, the delineation of such
objects is truly determinable by rule. The mechanical operations necessary for this pur-
pose form the subject of what follows. It is however necessary, before proceeding to lay
them before the reader, to premise that he must thoroughly study and understaiiff the pre-
ceding definitions before he can proceed with profit to himself, and we recommend a repeated
perusal of them until that be effectually accomjilished.
2-109. Example I. In
Jig. 830., No. 1 ., we have the plan of the original object
ET5ADCF, whereof ABCD is a cube, and RCEE a double cube, that is, twice the height
ofC15.\D. GIj is the ])lau of the ground line ; S, the station point. Through S draw
XY jiarallel to the ))iane of delineation G L, and draw SG and SL respectively jtarallei to
the sides EA and AD of the united cubes ABCl) and Bt'FE
;
and these produced to meet