J. V. Field is a Research Fellow in the Department of History of Art at Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Invention of Infinity gives the reader great insight into the practice of mathematics in history. As such it is instructive to anyone attempting to understand old texts. As an example of interdisciplinary work, this book is excellent. Fields study is particularly helpful in that it demonstrates the possibility of sympathetically approaching what are traditionally rather different disciplines.

• 1. Medieval mathematics and optics and the Renaissance style in art ; 2. Building, drawing and 'artificial perspective' ; 3. Through the wall: Masaccio's Trinity fresco ; 4. Piero della Francesca's mathematics ; 5. Piero della Francesca's perspective treatise ; 6. Practitioners and patricians ; 7. The Professionals move in ; 8. Beyond the Ancients ; 9. Fragmented perspective ; Appendix 1 The abacists' favourite scalene triangle: 13, 14, 15 ; Bibliography

J. V. Field is a Research Fellow in the Department of History of Art at Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Invention of Infinity gives the reader great insight into the practice of mathematics in history. As such it is instructive to anyone attempting to understand old texts. As an example of interdisciplinary work, this book is excellent. Fields study is particularly helpful in that it demonstrates the possibility of sympathetically approaching what are traditionally rather different disciplines.

• 1. Medieval mathematics and optics and the Renaissance style in art ; 2. Building, drawing and 'artificial perspective' ; 3. Through the wall: Masaccio's Trinity fresco ; 4. Piero della Francesca's mathematics ; 5. Piero della Francesca's perspective treatise ; 6. Practitioners and patricians ; 7. The Professionals move in ; 8. Beyond the Ancients ; 9. Fragmented perspective ; Appendix 1 The abacists' favourite scalene triangle: 13, 14, 15 ; Bibliography

J. V. Field is a Research Fellow in the Department of History of Art at Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Invention of Infinity gives the reader great insight into the practice of mathematics in history. As such it is instructive to anyone attempting to understand old texts. As an example of interdisciplinary work, this book is excellent. Fields study is particularly helpful in that it demonstrates the possibility of sympathetically approaching what are traditionally rather different disciplines.

• 1. Medieval mathematics and optics and the Renaissance style in art ; 2. Building, drawing and 'artificial perspective' ; 3. Through the wall: Masaccio's Trinity fresco ; 4. Piero della Francesca's mathematics ; 5. Piero della Francesca's perspective treatise ; 6. Practitioners and patricians ; 7. The Professionals move in ; 8. Beyond the Ancients ; 9. Fragmented perspective ; Appendix 1 The abacists' favourite scalene triangle: 13, 14, 15 ; Bibliography