It is impossible to draw a sphere in perspective however it is possible to put a sphere in perspective. To draw something in perspective means to represent a three dimensional object on a two dimensional plane in such a manner that the eye is fooled into believing that the object portrayed is in fact three dimensional, however it is possible to draw the light and shade on a sphere in perspective but this is not the same as drawing the form, try it. To put something in perspective means to relate one object to another.
Even to this day we talk about going to all corners of the world but in the days before Columbus sailed across the Atlantic and Megellan circumnavigated the world nearly 500 years ago, to those who lived along the coast of the Mediterranean, the sea must have felt like it was the centre of the world - hence its name Middle - Land. This painting performs two jobs, firstly by showing a ‘globe’ in perspective and secondly by putting the Mediterranean in perspective to the rest of the world despite the fact that we can only see half of it - a cubic globe would make an interesting sculpture.
Paintings can be read very much like maps, and on occasions, maps can be read like paintings especially when they are upside down and all we see are lines and colours which appear confusing until we can orientate ourselves.
The painting 'The World In Perspective' shows a human perspective of the world which is set out on the grid pattern of longitude and latitude at 10º intervals, with a Polar Square 66º 33’N. The eight corners of the globe are at 0º 45ºN, 90ºE 45ºN, 180º 45ºN, 90ºW 45ºN and 0º 45ºS, 90ºE 45ºS, 180º 45ºS, 90ºW 45ºS.
The squares on each side are the same but these squares distort the proportions because in reality the segments nearest the equator have a greater surface area. Nonetheless it would be possible to navigate the world using this cube and for the ancient mariner, who thought that if he sailed to the horizon he would fall off the surface of the world, looking at this cube would be reassuring.
The painting 'Global Perspective' shows the planet from nature's perspective.
