Optical Effect Collection (page 2)

The King's Staircase, 17th century (photo)
XTD75298 The King's Staircase, 17th century (photo); Hampton Court Palace, Middlesex, UK; (add.info.: remodelled by Sir Christopher Wren 1689-94;).

The 'Cappella della Annunciata' (Chapel of the Annunciation) designed by Flaminio Ponzio (c.1560-1613)
BEN110324 The 'Cappella della Annunciata' (Chapel of the Annunciation) designed by Flaminio Ponzio (c.1560-1613) detail of ceiling vault by Guido Reni (1575-1642) 1610 (photo)

The 'Sala delle Prospettive' (Hall of Perspective) designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481-1536) c.1510 (photo)
BEN107218 The 'Sala delle Prospettive' (Hall of Perspective) designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481-1536) c.1510 (photo); Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy; Photo © Raffaello Bencini.

Mirages (painting)
7432256 Mirages (painting) by Astrup, Nikolai (1880-1928); 48x56 cm; (add.info.: Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928)); Photo © O. Vaering

Virgin and Child with St. Helena and St. Francis (oil on panel)
NGW184293 Virgin and Child with St. Helena and St. Francis (oil on panel) by Aspertini, Amico (c.1474-1552); 85.5x71.1 cm; National Museum Wales; National Museums & Galleries of Wales

Dancing Satyr, from the Villa of Mysteries, 1st century BC (fresco)
IND106389 Dancing Satyr, from the Villa of Mysteries, 1st century BC (fresco) by Roman (1st century AD); Area archeologica di Pompei, Naples, Campania, Italy; Index Fototeca

Frescos on the walls of the Pentheus room, House of the Vettii, 1st century AD (photo)
IND113535 Frescos on the walls of the Pentheus room, House of the Vettii, 1st century AD (photo) by Roman (1st century AD); The Palatine, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: LtoR Punishment of Dirce)

A painted urn in a niche in the staircase hall, Kings Weston House, Bristol
CLF327768 A painted urn in a niche in the staircase hall, Kings Weston House, Bristol, from The Country Houses of Sir John Vanbrugh by Jeremy Musson

The Saloon, looking north-west, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, from The Country Houses of Sir John Vanbrugh by Jeremy
CLF327716 The Saloon, looking north-west, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, from The Country Houses of Sir John Vanbrugh by Jeremy Musson, published 2008 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

A baroque ceiling on the ground floor at Radnor House, Middlesex, from England's Lost Houses by Giles Worsley
CLF311800 A baroque ceiling on the ground floor at Radnor House, Middlesex, from England's Lost Houses by Giles Worsley (1961-2006) published 2002 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Trompe-l'oeil paintings in the dining room at Sezincote, Gloucestershire
CLF320660 Trompe-l'oeil paintings in the dining room at Sezincote, Gloucestershire, from Country Houses of the Cotswolds (b/w photo) by English Photographer

The Ambassadors, 1533 (oil on panel)
JLJ4678279 The Ambassadors, 1533 (oil on panel) by Holbein the Younger, Hans (1497/8-1543); 207x209 cm; National Gallery, London

The prophet Isaiah and an Angel, dome of the sacristy of Saint Mark, Santuario della Santa Casa, Loreto
DEX5040780 The prophet Isaiah and an Angel, dome of the sacristy of Saint Mark, Santuario della Santa Casa, Loreto, 15th century (fresco) by Forli, Melozzo da (1438-94); Santuario della Santa Casa

Book of Hours, vol 137, 2v, 16th century (Bound in red velour, with metal corners)
6333412 Book of Hours, vol 137, 2v, 16th century (Bound in red velour, with metal corners) by Flemish School, (16th century); 209x142 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane's Museum

Borromini perspective or colonnade, Spada gallery, Rome, Italy
7128884 Borromini perspective or colonnade, Spada gallery, Rome, Italy by Borromini, Francesco (1599-1667); Galleria Spada, Rome, Lazio, Italy; (add.info.: Borromini perspective or colonnade 1632)

The prophet Jeremiah and an angel, dome of the sacristy of Saint Mark, Santuario della Santa Casa, Loreto, c
DEX5040782 The prophet Jeremiah and an angel, dome of the sacristy of Saint Mark, Santuario della Santa Casa, Loreto, c.1477-93 (fresco) by Forli, Melozzo da (1438-94); Santuario della Santa Casa

The Triumph of Christianity, in the Room of Constantine, Raphael Rooms, c. 1585 (fresco)
SBL426308 The Triumph of Christianity, in the Room of Constantine, Raphael Rooms, c.1585 (fresco) by Laureti, Tommaso (c.1530-1602); Vatican Museums and Galleries

Fisherman's Paradise, 1941 (oil on canvas)
3081872 Fisherman's Paradise, 1941 (oil on canvas) by Atherton, John Carleton (1900-52); 61x76.8 cm; Shelburne Museum, Vermont, USA; (add.info.: Rustic still life)

Fan with a mask design and scenes from the Venice Carnival, c. 1900
CHT167879 Fan with a mask design and scenes from the Venice Carnival, c.1900 by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Trompe l'oeil: Letter rack with an hourglass, a razor and scissors, 1664 (oil on canvas)
LAF470827 Trompe l'oeil: Letter rack with an hourglass, a razor and scissors, 1664 (oil on canvas) by Gysbrechts, Cornelis Norbertus (1630-1683); 101.9x83.4 cm; Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent

Exterior of the Diptych of a Franciscan Friar (oil on canvas)
490187 Exterior of the Diptych of a Franciscan Friar (oil on canvas) by Provoost, Jan (c.1465-1529); Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium; (add.info.: See also 490188-89.); © Art in Flanders

A door flanked by two guards, from the Tomb of the Augurs, 5th century BC (mural painting)
IND106404 A door flanked by two guards, from the Tomb of the Augurs, 5th century BC (mural painting) by Etruscan, (6th century BC); Museo Nazionale Archeologico, Tarquinia, Viterbo, Lazio

The Triumph of the name of Jesus (Il Trionfo del nome di Gesu), a trompe l oeil fresco of the central vault of
YOU4418816 The Triumph of the name of Jesus (Il Trionfo del nome di Gesu), a trompe l oeil fresco of the central vault of the church of Gesu in Rome, the main church of the company of Jesus

Vault of the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, fresco in trompe l oeil representing the apotheosis of Ignatius
YOU4418419 Vault of the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, fresco in trompe l oeil representing the apotheosis of Ignatius of Loyola, the allegory of Jesuit missionary work

Portrait of Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711), 18th century (oil on canvas)
JLJ4567464 Portrait of Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711), 18th century (oil on canvas) by Gresly, Gabriel (1712-56); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Besancon

The Summer of Saint-Michel, 1932 (oil on canvas)
PWI261914 The Summer of Saint-Michel, 1932 (oil on canvas) by Roy, Pierre (1880-1950); Musee National d Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris

Musical instruments Marquetry by Fra Giovanni da Verona (late 15th - beginning 16th century)
LRI4690382 Musical instruments Marquetry by Fra Giovanni da Verona (late 15th - beginning 16th century), monastic choir of Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey

The Louvre of Napoleon III "View of the Palais du Louvre and the portrait of Napoleon III (1808-1873)
JLJ4604534 The Louvre of Napoleon III " View of the Palais du Louvre and the portrait of Napoleon III (1808-1873) in medallion" Painting by Victor Joseph Chavet (1822-1906) 1857 Sun

View of the Castle of Compiegne Painting by Simeon Fort (1793-1861) 19th century Fontainebleau castle museum
JLJ4602188 View of the Castle of Compiegne Painting by Simeon Fort (1793-1861) 19th century Fontainebleau castle museum by Fort, Simeon (1793-1861); Musee National Du Chateau De Fontainebleau

The Camel and the Floating Sticks (Collection 1, Book 4, fable 10) - engraving from "A Hundred Fables of La
XEE4161852 The Camel and the Floating Sticks (Collection 1, Book 4, fable 10) - engraving from " A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine" Illustrated by Percy J

The blue bird. Tale by Marie Catherine d Aulnoy (1651-1705). Illustration of Vaccari
XEE4181671 The blue bird. Tale by Marie Catherine d Aulnoy (1651-1705). Illustration of Vaccari and Carrey in " Les beaux tales" collection " Nos loisirs" around 1910

A lute ( Inlaid woodwork, 15th century)
LRI4597001 A lute ( Inlaid woodwork, 15th century) by Italian School, (15th century); Pisa Cathedral, Italy; (add.info.: A lute (A lute) Marquetry of wood of the 15th century (Inlaid woodwork) Pisa

Inlaid wooden lectern decorated with a trompe l oeil window, 1498
LRI4625136 Inlaid wooden lectern decorated with a trompe l oeil window, 1498 by Italian School, (15th century); San Miniato al Monte, Florence

Harry Houdini performance poster
7243349 Harry Houdini performance poster. by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Poster for performance in England of escape artist)

Still life in trompe l oeil, 17th century (oil on canvas)
PCT4255962 Still life in trompe l oeil, 17th century (oil on canvas) by Gysbrechts, Cornelis Norbertus (1630-1683); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Carcassonne, France; © Patrice Cartier

Occulus of the ceiling of the House of Spouses, Ducal Palace of Mantua, Italy (Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Ducale)
BEN5463163 Occulus of the ceiling of the House of Spouses, Ducal Palace of Mantua, Italy (Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Ducale, Mantova): detail of allegorical figures and putti

Still life in trompe l oeil (detail), 17th century (oil on canvas)
PCT4255963 Still life in trompe l oeil (detail), 17th century (oil on canvas) by Gysbrechts, Cornelis Norbertus (1630-1683); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Carcassonne, France; © Patrice Cartier

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Unveiling the Illusion: Exploring the Mesmerizing World of Optical Effects" Step into a world where reality blurs and imagination takes flight. From grand country houses to ancient frescoes, optical effects have been used throughout history to captivate and deceive the eye. In the staircase hall of Kings Weston House, Bristol, an intricately painted urn in a niche plays tricks on perception. Its skillful shading and perspective create an illusion of depth that draws you closer, as if beckoning from another dimension. At Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the Saloon mesmerizes with its north-west view. The clever use of light and shadow gives life to Baroque architecture, making it seem almost tangible. It's a testament to Sir John Vanbrugh's mastery in creating optical illusions within his designs. Radnor House in Middlesex boasts a ground-floor baroque ceiling that defies gravity itself. With its intricate patterns and trompe-l'oeil techniques, it transports visitors into a realm where ceilings become portals to otherworldly realms. Sezincote in Gloucestershire enchants guests with its dining room adorned with trompe-l'oeil paintings. These masterpieces blur boundaries between reality and artistry, transforming plain walls into windows opening onto lush landscapes or scenes from distant lands. Moving beyond architecture, we delve into artistic masterpieces such as "The Ambassadors. " Hans Holbein's iconic painting challenges our perception through anamorphic distortion—a hidden skull only revealed when viewed from an oblique angle—an eerie reminder of mortality lurking beneath beauty. Venturing further back in time, we discover frescoes adorning Santuario della Santa Casa in Loreto. Here, prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah stand alongside celestial beings—each brushstroke breathing life into divine visions that transcend mere paint on plaster. Turning pages of illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Hours reveals opulent creations bound in red velour with metal corners.