Anamorphic picture of a horse

Anamorphic picture, before 1753. This anamorphic picture of a horse was listed as one of the demonstrations of perspective in the earliest syllabus of Dr. Stephen Demainbray (1710-82), a lecturer on experimental philosophy. In later ones he simply gives 'different anamorphic perspectives'. Anamorphic pictures were common in the eighteenth century and were often used with mirrors, which, when placed over a distorted picture, revealed a recognisable image. Horses are common subjects. This example is painted on beech in a pine frame.