The first thing that comes to my mind when linear perspective and neoclassical artists are mentioned in the same sentence is probably the same image that every other college student who has ever taken an art history class, visualizes.
That is (figurative drum roll)...
David's Oath of the Horatii. Whether you were consciously taking notes or drooling, sponge-like, on your armrest knowledge of David's sharp use of linear perspective was probably retained through osmosis or something like it. Maybe by the sole fact it has been beat to death. A master piece, created by one of the greatest painters of the neoclassical era, my require more than one look. As my intro to modern architecture professor said " You would never say 'I had sex once, it was great' don't think I'll be trying that again" in reference to a student who questioned why we have to examine the same works as we did in the previous semester. A valid point. David uses repetition of the number three, three arches, three men, three women, and three diagonals, to define the space and create depth in the image. the light source in the painting also parallels these lines that radiate from the upper left hand corner. The receding lines of the tile floor converge at a singular point in the background and create the illusion of depth on a two dimensional surface. Here shadow, light and detail aid in this perspective, but those modern/ contemporary artists such as David Hockney use minimal detail and minimal shading and still create the illusion of depth. Linear perspective is key in his work. He notes in the video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIfDdW9GKmA&feature=related) that he paints the background lines or outlines of the ground, pathways, and horizontal surfaces prior to doing anything else; establishing a plane.
