The images produced by the camera obscura, a boxlike device that used a pinhole or lens to throw an image onto a ground-glass screen or a piece of white paper,were already familiar—the device had been much employed by topographical artists like the Italian painter Canaletto in his detailed views of the city of Venice.

　　词汇讲解：

　　camera obscura n. 暗箱

　　pinhole n. 小孔，针孔

　　topographical /ˌtɔpə'ɡræfikəl/ adj. 地形上的，地形学的

　　结构划分：

　　The images (produced by the camera obscura), (a boxlike device) (that used a pinhole or lens to throw an image onto a ground-glass screen or a piece of white paper), were already familiar—the device had been much employed (bytopographical artists) (like the Italian painter Canaletto) (in his detailed views of the city of Venice).

　　深度分析：

　　这个句子的主干就是The images were already familiar

　　本句中的断句请特别注意一下，主语和谓语被非谓语动词以及从句隔开了。

　　修饰一：(produced by the camera obscura) ，非谓语动词，修饰the images

　　中文：由暗箱所产生的

　　修饰二：(a boxlike device) ，同位语

　　中文：盒装设备

　　修饰三：(that used a pinhole or lens to throw an image onto a ground-glass screen or a piece of white paper) ，从句，修饰a boxlike device)

　　中文：用一个小孔或透镜把一张图像投射到一块毛玻璃或一张纸上

　　修饰四：(by topographical artists) ，介词短语

　　中文：通过地形艺术家

　　修饰五：(like the Italian painter Canaletto)，介词短语

　　中文：像意大利画家Canaletto

　　修饰六：(in his detailed views of the city of Venice)，介词短语

　　中文：在详细呈现威尼斯风景时

　　参考翻译：

　　由暗箱(一种盒装设备，用一个小孔或透镜把一张图像投射到一块毛玻璃或一张纸上)所产生的图像已经很熟悉了——这种设备已经被地形艺术家使用，例如意大利画家Canaletto在详细呈现威尼斯风景时使用了这种设备。