Aerial perspective or Atmospheric perspective is the method with which a sensation of depth is produced in a painting, by imitating the effect of space that makes objects look paler, bluer and more nebulous or less distinguishable at medium and far distances.[1]​.

The term was coined by Leonardo da Vinci,[2] but the technique may have already been used in the ancient Greco-Roman wall paintings of Pompeii. It was discovered that dust and humidity in the environment caused the dispersion of luminosity; short wavelength light (blue) being more spread and long wavelength light (red) less spread.

Italian painters of Leonardo's day used the procedure; being used in the century by northern European artists and later by Joseph Mallord William Turner.