Glossary: Atmospheric or Aerial Perspective

Albert Bierstadt used atmospheric perspective in Garden of the Rockies

During the Renaissance, artists used atmospheric perspective to create depth in their landscapes. Landscapes were usually painted as backgrounds for portraits and religious paintings rather than for their own sake. Many credit Leonardo da Vinci as the inventor of atmospheric or aerial perspective. However, other cultures such as the ancient Romans and the Chinese also demonstrated knowledge of the changes of color and value in the distance.

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