Camera Obscura as an Artistic Aid
• Since Giovanni Battista della Porta popularized the camera
obscura in 1558 through his “Magiae Naturalis” book, it
became increasingly popular among both artists and amateur
painters.
• Camera obscuras as drawing aids were soon found in many
shapes and sizes.
• When looking through the lens of a camera obscura, the view
presented is actually reflected through the mirrors onto the
paper or cloth and allows the artist to draw by tracing the
outline.