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Mathematical Treasure: William Hogarth’s Satire on False Perspective

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

William Hogarth (1697–1764) was a London engraver and artist. Most creative, he was particularly known as a pictorial satirist. In 1754, he issued “The Importance of Knowing Perspective” to highlight the absurdities that resulted when artists were unaware of the subject. How many perspective errors can you find?

Satire on False Perspective by William Hogarth from Wikipedia.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: William Hogarth’s Satire on False Perspective," Convergence (December 2022)