The Ambassadors
Hans Holbein the Younger
A double portrait with a skull that emerges from an oblique view.
Illusions in painting / 1675
Trompe-l’œil with Violin, Painting Tools, and Self-Portrait
A violin, papers, and painting tools seem attached to the wall.
TRY THIS
Compare the violin, the papers tucked behind straps, and the miniature portrait. Look for the shallow shadows that create apparent depth.
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History, evidence & image credit
THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE
Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts
Original file & attribution · Public domain
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What is Trompe-l’œil with Violin, Painting Tools, and Self-Portrait?
A violin, papers, and painting tools seem attached to the wall.
What should I look for in Trompe-l’œil with Violin, Painting Tools, and Self-Portrait?
Compare the violin, the papers tucked behind straps, and the miniature portrait. Look for the shallow shadows that create apparent depth.
What explains Trompe-l’œil with Violin, Painting Tools, and Self-Portrait?
Painted shadows, overlapping straps and papers, and the apparently projecting violin make a flat surface read as a collection of real objects.
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