The Perspective Research Centre (PRC) offers illustrated lectures, talks, workshops and courses examining visual, optical and technical perspective across art, science and technology.
Programmes can be adapted for universities, museums, schools, professional institutions, research groups, creative organisations and specialist teams.
The Master Lecture on Perspective
Perspective: Past, Present and Future
The Master Lecture on Perspective presents a comprehensive new account of how perspective works, bringing together geometry, vision, projection, representation and the underlying principles of line, plane and aspect vanishing. It reveals key concepts often missing from conventional teaching and places them within a unified theory of perspective
A richly illustrated lecture exploring how perspective connects vision, optics, geometry, art, photography, cinema, scientific imaging, computer graphics, virtual reality and artificial intelligence—and why it should be understood as a major interdisciplinary field.
The lecture is available in the following formats:
- 45-, 60-, 90- or 120-minute illustrated versions
- extended 143-slide presentation lasting approximately three hours
- suitable for general or specialist audiences
- available in person or online
- questions and discussion included
- adaptable to the audience, venue and event programme
Designed for beginners, general audiences, students and specialists alike, the lecture introduces the fundamental principles of perspective while also presenting advanced classifications, interdisciplinary connections and original theoretical ideas. The level of technical detail can be adapted to the audience, institution and available time.
Browse this 104-slide illustrated prospectus of the complete 143-slide lecture. Select any slide to explore the talk’s themes, visual material and scope.
Master Lecture - Topics Covered
This master lecture introduces perspective as a major field of visual knowledge. It is suitable for universities, colleges, research groups, museums, creative organisations, visual-production teams, and specialist professional audiences.
The lecture can be adapted for general or specialist audiences and may cover:
- the nature and wider status of perspective;
- natural, visual, optical and artificial perspective;
- the historical development of perspective;
- Leonardo da Vinci and visual knowledge;
- linear, curvilinear, spherical and other forms;
- viewpoint, projection, horizon and vanishing structures;
- perspective phenomena, distortion and visual illusion;
- photography, cinema, scientific imaging and computer graphics;
- virtual, augmented and extended reality;
- artificial intelligence, computer vision and the future of perspective.
The complete 143-slide lecture can be delivered as an extended presentation of approximately three hours, including questions and discussion. Condensed 45-, 60- and 90-minute versions are also available and can be adapted to the audience, venue and event programme.
Why Study Perspective?
Perspective is commonly taught only as part of drawing, architecture, photography, cinema, geometry or computer graphics. This fragmented treatment can obscure its wider significance.
Studied as an interdisciplinary field, perspective connects vision, optics, representation, imaging, spatial measurement, media technology and the construction of visual reality. It offers valuable methods for analysing images, solving visual problems, designing spatial systems and understanding how views and representations are created, transformed and interpreted.
Lecturer
All lectures and courses are presented by Dr Alan Radley FRSA, Founder and Scientific Director of the Perspective Research Centre.
Radley has researched visual, optical and technical perspective for more than thirty years. His background in physics, optics, astronomy, imaging systems and visual technology provides the programmes with a broad art–science–technology foundation.
He has presented internationally and written books, papers, articles and book chapters on perspective and related visual and optical subjects. His work also develops the research legacy of Professor Kim H. Veltman, whose scholarship forms an important part of the PRC’s intellectual foundation.
Perspective Courses
The PRC offers structured courses for beginner, intermediate and advanced audiences. Courses combine illustrated lectures, diagrams, guided discussion, practical visual problems and supporting materials.
A typical one-day programme is suitable for approximately 10–15 participants, although larger groups may be accommodated. Programmes can be adapted for educational institutions, professional teams, creative organisations and research settings.
These are not conventional drawing courses limited to linear perspective. They examine perspective across art, science, technology, vision, imaging and spatial representation.
Book a Lecture or Course
To enquire, please include brief details of your organisation, intended audience, preferred lecture or course, proposed date, location and whether the event will be in person or online.
Dr Alan Radley FRSA
Founder and Scientific Director
Perspective Research Centre
Email: alansradley@gmail.com
Related Perspective Topics
Teaching Perspective →
Introduction to Perspective →
Science of Perspective →
Perspective Category Theory →
Books →