Explore "The Stereoscope" by David Brewster on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Those who are desirous of having stereoscopic _relievos_ of absent or deceased friends, and who possess single photographic portraits of them, or even oil paintings or miniatures, will be anxious to know whether or not it is possible to obtain from one plane picture another which could be combined with it in the stereoscope; that is, if we consider the picture as one seen by either eye alone, can we by any process obtain a second picture as seen by the other eye? We have no hesitation in saying that it is impossible to do this by any direct process.
Every picture, whether taken photographically or by the eye, is necessarily a picture seen by one eye, or from one point of sight; and, therefore, a skilful artist, who fully understands the principle of the stereoscope, might make a copy of any picture as seen by the other eye, so approximately correct as to appear in relief when united with the original in the stereoscope; but the task would be a very difficult one, and if well executed, so as to give a relievo without distortion, the fortune of the painter would be made.