December 2017
Intermediate to advanced
208 pages
3h 39m
English
Trompe l’oeil is the attempt to deceive the viewer’s eye into believing that a representation is actually the thing itself. This ambition for perfect imitation goes back to Greek art. Aristotle, in The Poetics, writes; “… universal is the pleasure felt in things imitated.”
Since the mastery of representational techniques achieved in the Renaissance, trompe l’oeil has made regular appearances.
• Architectural. Mural and ceiling paintings attempt to convince the viewer that nonexistent spaces and architectural adornments are present.
• Easel painting. This creates the illusion that elements are projecting out in front of the picture plane.
• Diversion. An element is used as an amusing or diverting addition to another work of ...