Jo here with an ad before the programme. There's a new print edition of Dangerous Joy out now, if you happen to be wanting it. Now on to the fun stuff!
Last weekend I visited Dyrham Park, a 17th century house, and was delighted to find there a trompe l'oeil doorway. I love trompe l'oeil, which means "trick the eye," 
perhaps in part because I love realist painting. The realler the better!
Classic trompe l'oeil are mostly doorways, and you can see why. The illusion invites us to step over a threshold into another world. They rarely include clear people, but often a small animal to enhance the sense of life, and there's clever use of close, clear detail, as with the brush in this one. To work well, they also have to get the light right, and ideally work with the real light in the real room.
(If you're not sure what to trust, the painting begins just before the brush and dog. The doorway at the front and the corridor floor are real.)
They also have the benefit of expanding the sense of space of the real room, which we can now do much more easily with mirrors. High quality mirrors that last are a quite recent development. I found the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles a bit disappointing.
Here's a different kind of deception by use of types of wood. The arch in the back is actually flat.
This famous one is at Chatsworth. I've seen it there, and it really does trick the eye. Yes, it's all painted. 
Have you seen a trompe l'oeil anywhere?
Have a favorite?
Another very popular illusion in the past was on a ceiling, especially making it look open to the sky with gods or angels looking down. I think it's a lovely expansion of reality.
This one's from a monastery.
There's a page of fabulous TL here including a nifty ad from Honda. Could make me watch ads!
There's another great selection of older ones here.
I found this video of someone creating one. It takes 9 minutes to watch, but it does show how flat surfaces can be changed this way. I went away and came back every now and then. 🙂
If you have links to other great ones, share them. I just love trompe l'oeil!
Enjoy!
Jo
Some artists do this kind of thing on pavements, with chalk:
http://www.boredpanda.com/44-amazing-3d-sidewalk-chalk-artworks-by-julian-beever/
and some more (but also some repeats from the previous page)
http://www.bluejean.fr/en/culture/chalk-art.php
Some artists do this kind of thing on pavements, with chalk:
http://www.boredpanda.com/44-amazing-3d-sidewalk-chalk-artworks-by-julian-beever/
and some more (but also some repeats from the previous page)
http://www.bluejean.fr/en/culture/chalk-art.php
Some artists do this kind of thing on pavements, with chalk:
http://www.boredpanda.com/44-amazing-3d-sidewalk-chalk-artworks-by-julian-beever/
and some more (but also some repeats from the previous page)
http://www.bluejean.fr/en/culture/chalk-art.php
Some artists do this kind of thing on pavements, with chalk:
http://www.boredpanda.com/44-amazing-3d-sidewalk-chalk-artworks-by-julian-beever/
and some more (but also some repeats from the previous page)
http://www.bluejean.fr/en/culture/chalk-art.php
Some artists do this kind of thing on pavements, with chalk:
http://www.boredpanda.com/44-amazing-3d-sidewalk-chalk-artworks-by-julian-beever/
and some more (but also some repeats from the previous page)
http://www.bluejean.fr/en/culture/chalk-art.php
Those are amazing, Laura. Are they really temporary?
Those are amazing, Laura. Are they really temporary?
Those are amazing, Laura. Are they really temporary?
Those are amazing, Laura. Are they really temporary?
Those are amazing, Laura. Are they really temporary?
It did mention that one wasn’t completed due to rain, and they’re described as “chalk art” so I assume they’ll all have been washed away by now.
It did mention that one wasn’t completed due to rain, and they’re described as “chalk art” so I assume they’ll all have been washed away by now.
It did mention that one wasn’t completed due to rain, and they’re described as “chalk art” so I assume they’ll all have been washed away by now.
It did mention that one wasn’t completed due to rain, and they’re described as “chalk art” so I assume they’ll all have been washed away by now.
It did mention that one wasn’t completed due to rain, and they’re described as “chalk art” so I assume they’ll all have been washed away by now.
At our Hindu temple here in Pittsburgh an ornamental door was commissioned from India. It was heavy and made in teak with a lot of carvings on it. It was beautiful but did not work on a practical basis. So they just set it on the wall as a decoration/art and it worked! I have seen the open sky with angels looking in at many churches.
At our Hindu temple here in Pittsburgh an ornamental door was commissioned from India. It was heavy and made in teak with a lot of carvings on it. It was beautiful but did not work on a practical basis. So they just set it on the wall as a decoration/art and it worked! I have seen the open sky with angels looking in at many churches.
At our Hindu temple here in Pittsburgh an ornamental door was commissioned from India. It was heavy and made in teak with a lot of carvings on it. It was beautiful but did not work on a practical basis. So they just set it on the wall as a decoration/art and it worked! I have seen the open sky with angels looking in at many churches.
At our Hindu temple here in Pittsburgh an ornamental door was commissioned from India. It was heavy and made in teak with a lot of carvings on it. It was beautiful but did not work on a practical basis. So they just set it on the wall as a decoration/art and it worked! I have seen the open sky with angels looking in at many churches.
At our Hindu temple here in Pittsburgh an ornamental door was commissioned from India. It was heavy and made in teak with a lot of carvings on it. It was beautiful but did not work on a practical basis. So they just set it on the wall as a decoration/art and it worked! I have seen the open sky with angels looking in at many churches.
Jo–
I’ve always loved trompe l’oeil. My big issue is how to pronounce it correctly. *G*
Jo–
I’ve always loved trompe l’oeil. My big issue is how to pronounce it correctly. *G*
Jo–
I’ve always loved trompe l’oeil. My big issue is how to pronounce it correctly. *G*
Jo–
I’ve always loved trompe l’oeil. My big issue is how to pronounce it correctly. *G*
Jo–
I’ve always loved trompe l’oeil. My big issue is how to pronounce it correctly. *G*
I’ve seen many of these before, Laura, and they really are amazing. I hate to think that they can just be washed away!
I’ve seen many of these before, Laura, and they really are amazing. I hate to think that they can just be washed away!
I’ve seen many of these before, Laura, and they really are amazing. I hate to think that they can just be washed away!
I’ve seen many of these before, Laura, and they really are amazing. I hate to think that they can just be washed away!
I’ve seen many of these before, Laura, and they really are amazing. I hate to think that they can just be washed away!
I’ve only seen a few trompe l’oeil. Usually it’s ceilings that are done to look like the sky. I think I remember one of them from the Brighton Pavilion but couldn’t find anything on line.
About the pronunciation… http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/trompe-loeil/
I’ve only seen a few trompe l’oeil. Usually it’s ceilings that are done to look like the sky. I think I remember one of them from the Brighton Pavilion but couldn’t find anything on line.
About the pronunciation… http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/trompe-loeil/
I’ve only seen a few trompe l’oeil. Usually it’s ceilings that are done to look like the sky. I think I remember one of them from the Brighton Pavilion but couldn’t find anything on line.
About the pronunciation… http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/trompe-loeil/
I’ve only seen a few trompe l’oeil. Usually it’s ceilings that are done to look like the sky. I think I remember one of them from the Brighton Pavilion but couldn’t find anything on line.
About the pronunciation… http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/trompe-loeil/
I’ve only seen a few trompe l’oeil. Usually it’s ceilings that are done to look like the sky. I think I remember one of them from the Brighton Pavilion but couldn’t find anything on line.
About the pronunciation… http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/word/trompe-loeil/
For some reason I always want to call it trompe d’oeil, perhaps because it’d fall more easily from the tongue with a hard D in the middle.
I think l’oeil is one of those words we have to pretend we speak really good French and go for it with tongue, teeth and lips. It can’t kind of slide out in a drawl. 🙂
For some reason I always want to call it trompe d’oeil, perhaps because it’d fall more easily from the tongue with a hard D in the middle.
I think l’oeil is one of those words we have to pretend we speak really good French and go for it with tongue, teeth and lips. It can’t kind of slide out in a drawl. 🙂
For some reason I always want to call it trompe d’oeil, perhaps because it’d fall more easily from the tongue with a hard D in the middle.
I think l’oeil is one of those words we have to pretend we speak really good French and go for it with tongue, teeth and lips. It can’t kind of slide out in a drawl. 🙂
For some reason I always want to call it trompe d’oeil, perhaps because it’d fall more easily from the tongue with a hard D in the middle.
I think l’oeil is one of those words we have to pretend we speak really good French and go for it with tongue, teeth and lips. It can’t kind of slide out in a drawl. 🙂
For some reason I always want to call it trompe d’oeil, perhaps because it’d fall more easily from the tongue with a hard D in the middle.
I think l’oeil is one of those words we have to pretend we speak really good French and go for it with tongue, teeth and lips. It can’t kind of slide out in a drawl. 🙂
I really enjoy trompe l’oeil, too, Jo. A friend of mine had a window facing out onto a brick wall, and she painted a wonderful trompe l’oeil picture on it of a garden and a fountain and a view to the hills in the background. It made such a wonderful difference. She could make a living doing it, I’m sure, but she only paints for fun, so has only ever done that one and a handful of paintings. I try not to think of it as a waste. *g*
I really enjoy trompe l’oeil, too, Jo. A friend of mine had a window facing out onto a brick wall, and she painted a wonderful trompe l’oeil picture on it of a garden and a fountain and a view to the hills in the background. It made such a wonderful difference. She could make a living doing it, I’m sure, but she only paints for fun, so has only ever done that one and a handful of paintings. I try not to think of it as a waste. *g*
I really enjoy trompe l’oeil, too, Jo. A friend of mine had a window facing out onto a brick wall, and she painted a wonderful trompe l’oeil picture on it of a garden and a fountain and a view to the hills in the background. It made such a wonderful difference. She could make a living doing it, I’m sure, but she only paints for fun, so has only ever done that one and a handful of paintings. I try not to think of it as a waste. *g*
I really enjoy trompe l’oeil, too, Jo. A friend of mine had a window facing out onto a brick wall, and she painted a wonderful trompe l’oeil picture on it of a garden and a fountain and a view to the hills in the background. It made such a wonderful difference. She could make a living doing it, I’m sure, but she only paints for fun, so has only ever done that one and a handful of paintings. I try not to think of it as a waste. *g*
I really enjoy trompe l’oeil, too, Jo. A friend of mine had a window facing out onto a brick wall, and she painted a wonderful trompe l’oeil picture on it of a garden and a fountain and a view to the hills in the background. It made such a wonderful difference. She could make a living doing it, I’m sure, but she only paints for fun, so has only ever done that one and a handful of paintings. I try not to think of it as a waste. *g*
What Mary Jo said!
What Mary Jo said!
What Mary Jo said!
What Mary Jo said!
What Mary Jo said!
Also, Philadelphia is known for its murals, including a number of trompe l’oeil ones.
Also, Philadelphia is known for its murals, including a number of trompe l’oeil ones.
Also, Philadelphia is known for its murals, including a number of trompe l’oeil ones.
Also, Philadelphia is known for its murals, including a number of trompe l’oeil ones.
Also, Philadelphia is known for its murals, including a number of trompe l’oeil ones.
Forgot to post the link! http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/06/philadelphias-murals/#!ZAuzd
But there’s also a very good Philadelphia mural group of Flickr with hundreds of photos.
Forgot to post the link! http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/06/philadelphias-murals/#!ZAuzd
But there’s also a very good Philadelphia mural group of Flickr with hundreds of photos.
Forgot to post the link! http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/06/philadelphias-murals/#!ZAuzd
But there’s also a very good Philadelphia mural group of Flickr with hundreds of photos.
Forgot to post the link! http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/06/philadelphias-murals/#!ZAuzd
But there’s also a very good Philadelphia mural group of Flickr with hundreds of photos.
Forgot to post the link! http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/06/philadelphias-murals/#!ZAuzd
But there’s also a very good Philadelphia mural group of Flickr with hundreds of photos.
tromp loy is how I’ve always heard it.
tromp loy is how I’ve always heard it.
tromp loy is how I’ve always heard it.
tromp loy is how I’ve always heard it.
tromp loy is how I’ve always heard it.