Illusionism (art)

The term realist may be used in this sense, but that also has rather different meanings in art, as it is also used to cover the choice of ordinary everyday subject-matter, and avoiding 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.

The development of increasingly accurate representation of the visual appearances of things has a long history in art.

Ancient Greek art is commonly recognised as having made great progress in the representation of anatomy, and has remained an influential model ever since.

Scientific methods of representing perspective were developed in Italy and gradually spread across Europe, and accuracy in anatomy rediscovered under the influence of classical art.

[2]In the Webster Texas Holiday Inn, close to the Houston Space Center, there is a double illusion ceiling by muralist Frank Wilson, commissioned in honor of US astronauts.

Triumph of the Name of Jesus , by Giovanni Battista Gaulli , on the ceiling of the Church of the Gesu . The decorations of the vault over the nave date back to the 17th century. The fresco is the work of Giovanni Battista Gaulli, known as Baciccia. The stucco reliefs were executed by Ercole Antonio Raggi and Leonardo Reti, following the drawings of Baciccia who wanted to effect a real continuity between painting and sculpture.
Lord Leighton 's Cimabue's Madonna Carried in Procession of 1853-1855 is at the end of a long tradition of illusionism in painting, but is not Realist in the sense of Courbet's work of the same period.
Bas-de-page of the Baptism of Christ , "Hand G" ( Jan van Eyck ?), Turin-Milan Hours . An advanced illusionistic work for c 1425, with the dove of the Holy Ghost in the sky.
Illusionistic ceiling fresco by Andrea Mantegna in the Camera degli Sposi, Ducal Palace, Mantua
Andrea Mantegna 's late- Quattrocento ceiling fresco in the Camera degli Sposi (commissioned by Ludovico III Gonzaga for Mantua's Ducal Palace) is an early example of illusionistic ceiling painting .