An artist who is trying to create the illusion of space sharply defines texture in the foreground and paints less defined
and softened textures in the background.
Master of the Embroidered Foliage
Virgin and Child in a Landscape c.1495-1500
Oil on panel
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Gift of the Groves Foundation, by exchange
The trees and building in the background of this painting have details, such as the leaves on the trees, as sharply
defined as those in the foreground. This indicates that the illusion of space was not this artist's primary goal.
Master of the Embroidered Foliage
Detail of Virgin and Child in a Landscape c.1495-1500
Oil on panel
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Gift of the Groves Foundation, by exchange
This artist painted texture to create the illusion of depth in this painting. Notice how sharply defined the texture is
in the bark and leaves of the tree nearest to us on the left.
Thomas Gainsborough
The Fallen Tree probably between 1750 and 1753
Oil on canvas
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
The trees in the background are softer and less defined, as they would appear to our eyes if we were actually standing
in the landscape.
Thomas Gainsborough
Detail of The Fallen Tree probably between 1750 and 1753
Oil on canvas
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The John R. Van Derlip Fund