Quadratura Italian Baroque interior design



the illustionistic perspective of andrea pozzo s trompe-l oeil dome @ sant ignazio (1685) creates illusion of actual architectural space on is, in actuality, concave painted surface.


quadratura, term introduced in 17th century , used in english, became popular baroque artists. although can refer opening of walls through architectural illusion, term most-commonly associated italian ceiling painting. unlike other trompe-l oeil techniques or precedent di sotto in sù ceiling decorations, rely on intuitive artistic approaches deception, quadratura directly tied 17th-century theories of perspective , representation of architectural space. due reliance on perspective theory, more unites architecture, painting , sculpture , gives more overwhelming impression of illusionism earlier examples.


the artist paint feigned architecture in perspective on flat or barrel-vaulted ceiling in such way seems continue existing architecture. perspective of illusion centered towards 1 focal point. steep foreshortening of figures, painted walls , pillars, creates illusion of deep recession, heavenly sphere or open sky. paintings on ceilings could, example, simulate statues in niches or openings revealing sky.


quadratura may employ other illusionistic painting techniques, such anamorphosis.


examples of illusionistic painting include:



andrea pozzo @ san ignazio in rome , jesuit church in vienna. wrote standard theoretical work of artistic ideas in 2 volumes of : perspectiva pictorum et architectorum andreae putei societate jesu (rome, 1693–1700).
pietro da cortona @ palazzo barberini,
gianbattista tiepolo in ca rezzonico in venice, villa pisani @ stra, , throne room @ royal palace of madrid.

other examples paolo veronese @ villa rotonda in vicenza , baldassare peruzzi in villa farnesina of rome.








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