A decorative woodcut headpiece features two reclining nude figures flanking a central pedestal, surrounded by ornate scrollwork, foliage, and vases.

TO THE READER.

THIS Book here (Kind Reader) was made for two purposes: one for the utility that one can draw from this art of perspective; the other for the pleasure that one can have in the speculation of both the reasons of it, as well as the practice. Regarding the first, it is useful to all Architects, Engineers, Painters, and generally to all those who handle the compass. The Architect can draw this convenience from it, that having made some plan of a building, portico, or other thing whatsoever, and desiring to see a perfect painting of it as if he saw the thing in effect, he will be able to do it according to the reasons which are demonstrated here. Regarding the Engineer, he can draw the same convenience from it; and having taken some plan whatsoever, such as of a Garden, castle, fortress, or other thing, he will be able to make a demonstration of it by perspective, and show what is high and low, long and wide. Painters could not do without it if they want to represent well what they do, inasmuch as the art of painting consists in representing a natural thing and making it appear as such to the view, which cannot be well done without using true reasons proper to this science, which serves to put all the lines and strokes in their places. The pleasure that one can draw from this art is that among all the arts of Mathematics, this one brings the most contentment; for after one has worked on the speculation and practice, which is a contentment as could be that of Geometry, one will have in addition the pleasure of seeing what one has done, for of all Mathematics, only perspective gives pleasure to the sight. Now, many have treated of this art, but the greater part without reasons or any foundation, drawing their visual rays from an engraved plan, and have afterward arranged their figures partly by pleasure. Now, to give an understanding of the reason for this art, I have placed here following some Definitions and Theorems, which being...