Illusionistic ceiling painting in the context of "Sant'Ignazio, Rome"

Play Trivia Questions online!

 or

Skip to study material about Illusionistic ceiling painting in the context of "Sant'Ignazio, Rome"

⭐ Core Definition: Illusionistic ceiling painting

Illusionistic ceiling painting, which includes the techniques of perspective di sotto in sù and quadratura, is the tradition in Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo art in which trompe-l'œil, perspective tools such as foreshortening, and other spatial effects are used to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on an otherwise two-dimensional or mostly flat ceiling surface above the viewer. It is frequently used to create the illusion of an open sky, such as with the oculus in Andrea Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, or the illusion of an architectural space such as the cupola, one of Andrea Pozzo's frescoes in Sant'Ignazio, Rome. Illusionistic ceiling painting belongs to the general class of illusionism in art, designed to create accurate representations of reality.

↓ Menu

In this Dossier

Illusionistic ceiling painting in the context of Illusionism (art)

Illusionism in art history means either the tradition of art that appears to share the physical space with the viewer or more broadly the attempt to represent physical appearances precisely – also called mimesis. The latter can also be called realism, but the term can also mean the use of everyday subject-matter, or the avoidance of idealizing subjects. Illusionism encompasses a long history, from the deceptions of Zeuxis and Parrhasius to the works of muralist Richard Haas in the twentieth century, that includes trompe-l'œil, anamorphosis, optical art, abstract illusionism, and illusionistic ceiling painting techniques such as di sotto in sù and quadratura. Sculptural illusionism includes works, often painted, that appear real from a distance. Other forms, such as the illusionistic tradition in the theatre, and Samuel van Hoogstraten's "peepshow"-boxes from the seventeenth century, combine illusionistic techniques and media.

↑ Return to Menu
LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Illusionism (art)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Andrea Pozzo → Trompe-l'œil → Renaissance art → Baroque art → Rococo → Perspective (graphical) → Foreshortening → Three-dimensional space → Two-dimensional → Illusion → Oculus (architecture) → Andrea Mantegna → Camera degli Sposi → Cupola → Fresco → Sant'Ignazio, Rome → Illusionism (art) → Art → Reality →