Golden rules – scratchpad thoughts
April 30th, 2014
A considered look at artistic composition.
a) a winding path, brook, river or canal which leads the eye into the distance.
Stonebridge Park estate
Kennet and Avon Canal Bath
Scarlette Manor Way Cressingham Gardens
Ouro Preto Brasil
b) or a sense of perspective where the eye is led into the distance to the vanishing point or subject by a line of houses.
Trinity Rise Tulse Hill
Venice
Clifton Bristol
Salvador Bahia between Pelourinho and San Antonio
Salvador Bahia between Pelourinho and San Antonio
c) the ultimate composition where the view has an end stop in the form of a cathedral or other noble building. The Portuguese are very good at this both in their own country and in their colonies such as Brasil. In the photos below note how the twin church towers form a destination for the eye.
Salvador Bahia towards Pelourinho
Approaching Pelourinho from the West
Ouro Preto Brasil
St James the less Lillington Gardens
Coimbra Portugal
The most spectacular example of the “end stop” view is at Petra in Jordan. I went in 1990 and have seen this view. It is extraordinary and as breathtaking as it looks. How the designers must have thought about this before carving it with the result you see below.
The Treasury Petra Jordan