Trompe L’oeil at its Best

When I first saw this photo of the neo-Greek room, my first impression was that all of the classic motifs on the walls, the pilasters, the ceiling, and even the art above the mantel were real…

 But, after reading the description, and after careful observation (making you want to touch the walls in real life), I realized it’s the refined art of trompe l’oeil, which is a French term meaning to trick of the eye.

 This optical illusion is the work of artist Alan Dodd, at the entrance hall of a London townhouse. It certainly presented the observer with a spectacular impression of reality.

 Courtesy of House & Garden, photography by Richard Bryant