Trompe l'Oeil is a French term meaning literally 'deceives the eye'. The term was first used by the artist Louis-Leopold Boilly (1761-1845), when he exhibited a painting in the Paris Salon, listed as 'un trompe l'oeil'. The art-form itself however is much older, the Roman writer, Pliny the Elder tells the story of a competition between two famous Greek artists to produce the most realistic painting. Giotto (1266-1337) used trompe l'oeil to create a painting that fooled his own master into trying to swat a painted fly on the picture. One of the greatest exponents of trompe l'oeil painting was a 17th Century Flemish painter called Cornelius Gijsbrechts. Little is known about him, but he produced most of his work over a period of about 20 years when he was court painter to the Danish Kings. During this time he developed the popular 'quad libet' (whatever you like...) still life paintings into some of the most technically accomplished trompe l'oeil painting ever produced.

Phone 01603 484472 or email: artenqs@chrisavey-murals.co.uk