Trompe l'oeil (trick of the eye)

The Villa Farnesina is one big illusionistic picnic. At the time it was built in the 16th century this was on the outskirts of Rome, now it's pretty much in the center. It was built for the wealthy Sienese banker, Agostina Chigi, who mostly used this for well known parties. The story of one, is that the meal was served on gold and silver plates which were tossed into the Tiber (right across the street) after each course but not to worry, Chigi had put nets across the river to collect all the plates after the guests had departed.

Another example of troupe l'oeil is the ceiling of the Gesu cathedral in the heart of Rome by the Baroque artist, Gaulli. This amazing fresco extravaganza has been restored to it's former glory.

"Galatea" detail by Raphael is probably the most famous detail in the Villa. This fresco was painted in 1514 in the main entrance hall, apparently part of a fresco cycle never completed although the walls looked pretty much covered with images.

This is the ceiling in the same room, you can see "Galatea" on the left hand wall second fresco panel from the end.

This hall is a perfect example of trompe l'ceil as you will have a hard time differentiating between what is "real" and what is illusion. For the next few slides I'll just give you some amazing details without captions.

Upstairs the main hall does have a real fire place but most of the rest of the decoration is painted.

A small display of Leonardo Da'Vinci's only original work in Rome along with copies by other artists had drapery on the wall you would have sworn was real but entirely painted.

In the Wedding Hall once again the fire place is real as is the door but the figures coming out of the wall and the painting above are all painted.

The full wall in the Wedding Hall is taken up with the painting "Wedding Night of Alexander the Great" by Sodoma an artist I've never seen before. Quite dramatic.

In case you are wondering, the white elements that look like sculpture actually are and the rest is painted. This fresco was painted in the 17th century, entitled "Triumph of the Name of Jesus".

Detail of the Gaulli ceiling in which you can see how the painting extends over the actual architectural elements and a shadow is painted onto the decorative elements as if the extension is hovering.