"Escaping Criticism" by Pere Borrell del Caso, 1874.
Tromp l'oeil is a centuries old style of painting meant to, literally, "trick the eye".
An ancient Greek story dating to about 500 BC tells of a contest between two famous painters of the time, Zeuxis and Parrhasius. Zeuxis painted a still life so real, birds flew to the canvas to peck at the grapes. He then told Parrhasius to unveil his painting, which was hidden behind a pair of tattered curtains. Parrhasius won. His painting was not hidden by the curtains but was the curtains.
Pompeian fresco
Some of the oldest surviving examples of tromp l'oeil are found in the remains of Pompeii, Italy. Typical tromp l'oeil of this period might depict windows or doors looking onto beautiful landscapes or columns and paneling enhancing the richness of the decor.
Pompeian fresco
Pompeian fresco
During the Middle Ages a decrease in wealth and stability led to a drop off in artistic achievement. It was not until the Renaissance when perspective drawing was fully explored and painters once again created stunning tromp l'oeil works.
"Triumph of the Sacred Name of Jesus" by Giovanni Batista Gaulli, 1679. The Church of the Gesu in Rome, Italy.
Italian fresco painters of the 1400's experimented with foreshortening on ceilings, referred to as "di sotto in sù" (from below), a technique which creates the illusion of greater space.
"The Camera degli Sposi" by Andrea Mantegna, 1474. The Ducal Palace in Mantua, Italy
An early example of this architectural trompe l'oeil can be found in the Santa Maria presso San Satiro church in Milan, Italy. Constructed in the late 1400's, the church's proximity to an existing road meant the choir could not be built as deep as originally planned. Instead, architects Giovanni Antonio Amadeo and Donato Bramante created a richly detailed theatrical apse in bas-relief. The illusion was a success. Although the space appeared to be several feet deep, it actually only measured a mere 38 inches.
The choir of the Santa Maria presso San Satiro in Milan, Italy
One of the most spectacular examples of this style is found at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius in Rome, Italy. Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709), a Jesuit brother, painted the massive fresco which stretches the length of the ceiling.
The Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius in Rome, Italy
Although the ceiling is flat, Pozzo's painting creates the effect of a barrel vaulted ceiling.
"The Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius" by Andrea Pozzo, 1694
Detail from "The Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius" by Andrea Pozzo, 1694
Detail from "The Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius" by Andrea Pozzo, 1694
A whimsical type of architectural trompe l'oeil called "quodlibet" (whatever pleases) features life like paintings of everyday objects in real settings.
"Trompe l'oeil" by Johann Heinrich Fussli, 1750
"Trompe l'oeil" by Edward Collier, 1699
At Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England, a violin and bow appear to be hanging on the back of a door.
Violin and Bow by Jan van der Vaart, 1723.
Modern examples of trompe l'oeil are found in the works of body painter Joanne Gair and sidewalk artist Julian Beever.
"Disappearing Model" by Joanne Gair
"Eiffel Tower Sand-Sculpture" by Julian Beever
These "tricks of the eye" have delighted people for centuries. Although the format and subject matter may change, the surprise effect continues to amuse...
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