Panofsky * refers to "axial perspective" or "fishbone perspective", as a form
of perspective in which parallel lines converge to a vertical axis in lieu
of the vanishing point of "linear perspective". Axial perspective was used
in ancient Greece as well as in ancient Rome, and was discussed by Vitruvius.
Plato opposed the use of (axial) perspective in art, as proportions were not
consistent. Plato favored mathematical "truth" as he understood it, over the
"truth" that could be depicted in art using perspective. The paintings above
depict axial perspective found in a paintings from Pompeii.
* Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968)was an influential German art historian,
specialising in iconography (including cultural history as context).
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