What is Cavalier Perspective and When Should it be Used?

Hello everyone, you probably have some memories of drawing perspective back in middle school… You know, that time when you had to represent cubes or houses by connecting straight lines, without always understanding why it worked. Today, we're going to talk about one of these methods: cavalier perspective.

Get your pencils, paper, and your ruler ready, off we go!

The origin of cavalier perspective

Cavalier perspective has its roots in the Renaissance, when engineers and architects sought quick ways to represent plans without resorting to the complex construction of vanishing points. It truly developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in military and technical drawing, where there was a need to convey precise views of fortifications or machines.

Later, surveyors like Gaspard Monge formalized it in their treatises on descriptive geometry, giving it a solid theoretical foundation. Thanks to this process, all parallel lines remain parallel on paper, which greatly simplifies the work while maintaining good visibility and understanding of volumes.

Cavlier view of the Châteauneuf castle

Characteristics of cavalier perspective

When talking about perspective in drawing, we mainly encounter three major types: cavalier perspective, isometric perspective, and the so-called "real" perspective.

Each has its own rules and objectives: cavalier and isometric simplify depth to make objects more understandable and easy to construct, while real perspective seeks to closely mimic human vision, with its vanishing points and natural deformations.

No perspective - cavalier perspective - isometric perspective - "real" perspective

But then, what distinguishes cavalier perspective from others?

It is a method of representation that seeks to give an impression of volume without following the complex rules of real perspective. Specifically, in cavalier perspective, the front face of objects is represented head-on, without distortion, while the depth is drawn at an angle, often at a fixed angle (usually 30°, 45°, or 60°).

Unlike real perspective, there are no vanishing points: parallel lines remain parallel, they never converge. This allows for constant proportions, even in depth, which is very practical for technical drawings, diagrams, or quick sketches. Whereas real perspective seeks to mimic human vision with its visual distortions, cavalier perspective relies on clarity and ease of view and understanding.

Cavlier perspective                                                                   Real perspective

The calculation of the vanishing line (this obliquely extending line) in cavalier perspective is based on the angle of the depth lines, usually at 45° to the horizontal. To avoid excessive distortion, a reduction coefficient is applied, which adjusts the length of the depth lines. For example, with a coefficient of 1/2, a depth of 10 cm would be reduced to 5 cm in the drawing. This helps create an illusion of depth while maintaining the proportions of the object.

Cavalier perspective is ultimately very mathematical; that's why it's used in geometry to represent basic volumes. You don’t need to be a good artist to use it successfully; you just need to have the right tools and apply the basic rules.

Drawing a square in perspective

Now that you know the specifics of cavalier perspective, I propose we look at how to draw it step by step. This will undoubtedly bring back a lot of memories!

1. We start by drawing a square.

2. Using a protractor, we measure an angle of 45° and then draw diagonals from the points.
 

3. Repeat to draw the top diagonals.

4. To calculate the length of the diagonals, take a ratio of ½ of the side of the square.

5. Draw the diagonals and erase the marks.

6. Connect the remaining points to complete the shape.

Other shapes

So far, we have talked only about cubes, but cavalier perspective applies to all types of shapes. Whether it be cylinders, pyramids, or more complex shapes like spheres, the method remains the same.

You can adapt the rules of cavalier perspective to each shape by adjusting the inclination of the depth lines and taking into account the chosen coefficient. So, this technique enables consistent and proportionate representation of a wide variety of 3D objects.

Here's how to draw shapes using a cube as a reference. Note that this works with all shapes, you just need to know their different faces and structures, then transpose them onto the guide cube.

1. We start by drawing a reference cube.

2. We place the main faces on the reference cube.

3. We finish the shape.

When should you use cavalier perspective?

Cavalier perspective is interesting when studying geometry because it enables representation of three-dimensional shapes in a relatively simple way. It is a very practical technique for visualizing objects, shapes, or structures clearly, making it ideal in fields such as architecture or design.

However, as soon as you truly take an interest in drawing, cavalier perspective can turn out to be a false friend. Although it gives the illusion of mastering perspective, it is based on principles that do not reflect visual reality. While it may seem tempting to use it for quick sketches, I strongly advise you to focus on real perspective. This will enable you to depict volumes, objects, and even characters in a much more realistic way that is rooted in tangible depth.

If you want to learn more about real perspective drawing, I refer you to the dedicated article. 

I hope you enjoyed this article and that it has helped you learn a bit more about cavalier perspective, or that it at least rekindled some memories. Although I advise against using it for large drawings, don’t hesitate to experiment with this technique if you like product design for example! 😊

Writer and Illustrator: Chloé Pouteau