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What is trompe l'oeil decoration? Trompe l'oeil is a French term which means
"fools the eye". It is the use of painting techniques to create an
illusion of textured surfaces as well as to give three dimensional appearances
to flat walls and ceilings. Through the use of shading, artists are able to
produce these desired three dimensional effects. This is unlike decorative
painting, which only serves to embellish a surface rather than to give it the
appearance of depth.
Trompe
l'oeil painting has been used for over two thousand years and as a painting
style dates back to 400 BC. It was part of the rich culture of the Greek and
Roman Empires. Although the style has changed over time, the concept behind it
has remained the same. Early examples of trompe l'oeil can be found in the
ruins of Pompeii as well as Eurculaneum, which dates back to the first century
AD and are the only murals of ancient trompe l'oeil that exist today.
The trompe
l'oeil style used here attempted to give the viewer an impression of open
spaces through the use of open windows in an otherwise enclosed area, as seen
in the Room of Pentheus, House of Vettii in Pompeii. In the centuries that
followed after the fall of the Roman Empire, trompe l'oeil fell into disuse
during the period known as the "Dark Ages". It did not resurface
again until the Renaissance and Baroque eras. During this time it was used by
prominent Europeans and clergy to extend churches and palaces by
"opening" the ceiling or a wall. Some notable trompe l'oeil artists
of this period were Andrea Mantegna, Paolo Uccello and Paolo Veronese.
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