Perspectograph by Johann H.Lambert
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Inventor
Johann Heinrich Lambert (1728-1777)
Historic Period
1752
Description
Instrument for drawing a ground plan in perspective. It consists of a set of rulers and a square with cursors and slots. Two rulers of the same length are fixed parallel to the drawing board. One of them serves as ground line, the other as horizon line. Another two rulers, rather long, are hinged to the horizon line ruler, one at the principal point, the other at the distance point. These rulers intersect, forming a triangle of variable height thanks to a cursor sliding in their slots. Sliding along the ground line is the square hinged with a cursor to the ruler converging at the principal point. Attached to the square with cursors is another ruler also oriented at 45°, whose lower end is also attached to the ruler converging at the distance point. The plan drawing is fixed below the ground line while the sheet on which the perspective view is to be drawn is above it, between it and the horizon line. The draughtsman brings the cursor joining the two intersecting rulers to any point on the plan and traces the matching perspective position of the point at the stopping point of the cursor that joins the 45° ruler to the vertical side of the square.
Bibliographical Resources
Lambert, Johann Heinrich. Anlage zur perspektive, ms., 1752, Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, B 736.
Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota
