The anamorphic cylinder transforms flat distorted images, which it reflects. By looking into the cylinder, the distorted figure appears in its proper proportion.
Anamorphic art, with its accelerated perspective, became popular in the Orient and Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries when artists created a variety of playful experiments with perspective for amusement. But anamorphic art was not only popular, it was useful in demonstrating the reflection of light over curved surfaces. Probably for these reasons, Barnard ordered the sets of anamorphic art for the University classrooms in 1855.
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