Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Linear Perspective Outside of Europe

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inverse perspective Dionysiy Dionisius
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The achievements of the Renaissance in Europe were major achievements for mankind. However, these achievements were not always known, nor understood in cultures outside of Europe. As an example, linear perspective was not adopted outside of Europe. Some say that Renaissance discoveries were not adopted not because of a lack of ability, but rather, because of perceived incompatibility with native cultural ideologies. Centuries after the Mongol invasion, Renaissance achievements were artificially grafted onto Russian society. The result is that a large proportion of the Russian population remains unaware of the Renaissance.

No Feuillet choreography. No theory of music or dance (Ballet d'Action) based upon a theory that emphasizes passions. No theory of humanistic philosophy, no theories of rhetoric based upon gesture to expand art, architecture, acting, clothing, theatre, gardens, etc. - foreigners were employed that were aware of some of these things. Aristocrats (that personally beat their talented serfs may have been sensitive to the Renaissance, but whatever their sensitivities, their knowledge of the Renaissance was foreign to Russia, and forgotten). There appears to be no extant written studies in Russia that focused upon the Renaissance and Baroque arts. If such studies existed, it never penetrated Russian society. Russians created their "own" Renaissance, but it is distinctly different from the European Renaissance and Baroque. This non-existence of the European Renaissance and Baroque is significant.

As an example, consider the painting by Dionysiy Dionisius (1440-1502), above. Consider where the vanishing points are. This kind of "perspective" is sometimes referred to as "inverse perspective".

As an aside, it is noteworthy that if linear perspective effectively was not a part of Russian culture, then perspective theatre stages also were not a part of Russian culture (except if unconsciously lifted, from France, for example; or consciously used in opposition to Russian cultural ideologies [the Russian Orthodox church]).

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