Trompe l’œil | Musée du Trompe l'Oeil

Architectural trompe-l’œil

to-architectural

On the walls and ceilings of villas and palaces, trompe-l’oeil is a triumph. It offers a way to open the interior space and to change our perception of it. Using this technique, artists transform ordinary inhabited spaces into adventurous, imaginary places. Balustrades, staircases, columns, sculptures, fictitious characters, open doors, skies, windows and curtains are painted with undeniable trompe-l’œil virtuosity.
Widely used since the 15th century in European churches, trompe-l’œil architecture provides the effect of height and domes opening onto the sky. Artists use this technique to give the spectator the illusion of looking up into heaven.

Illusionist easel painting

to-architectural

Illusionist easel painting first appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries, and from the beginning it followed strict rules: the subject must be painted to scale, objects must be fully shown within the frame, and the signature of the artist must always be hidden somewhere within the painting, for example. This genre requires extreme meticulousness and a perfect mastery of technical drawing. The creative genius of this type of painting is to be found in the way that it is inserted into its surroundings.

Anamorphosis

to-architectural

Anamorphosis is the reversible deformation of an image using a logarithm or an optical device such as a curved mirror.
The spectator must observe the work from a set location to see the illusion.
The artist thus involves the viewer as part of the work, and the viewer is drawn into an unusual, surprising, imaginary, fantastic world.
Historically, anamorphosis was one of the perspective-bending applications pioneered by Piero della Francesca.

Interior trompe-l’œil

to-architectural

This type of painting, frequently used by ancient Greek and Roman fresco painters, later reappeared during the Renaissance and again in the 18th century as decoration on the walls and ceilings of palaces, castles and townhouses. Today, interior trompe-l’oeil is becoming an element of home décor in its own right.

Urban trompe-l’œil – Street art

to-architectural

In the last few years, trompe-l’oeil has enjoyed a new showcase that has brought it to the public eye: gigantic “exhibitions” of works on the surfaces of city walls, on the protective canvases of construction or renovation projects and on the pavement. Indeed, “street art” is a form of trompe-l’oeil, too.

Body Painting

to-architectural

Body painting was one of the first forms of artistic expression used by our ancestors.
This spectacular art is making a comeback in our millennium in a very contemporary form.
The body is an endless source of creative inspiration, and the artist uses the skin to create incredible illusions. Viewers won’t – and shouldn’t – believe their eyes!