Baroque Era

 

Fresco with Trompe l’oeuil – Andrea Pozzo -Jesuit Church Vienna-1703

This painting was created by Andrea Pozzo in 1703. It was painted on the ceiling of the Jesuit Church in Vienna.  It was painted with a technique of painting called fresco which pigment is mixed with water on a thin layer of wet, fresh plaster.  Trompe l’oeuil means “trick of the eye.” This is because this painting is actually painted on a flat ceiling and by using foreshortening and other spatial effects it gives the ceiling a curved illusion!

I feel like not just this painting but the art of illusion ceilings in general has a tie with not only the influence of royalty but also the rise of the merchant class. The ceiling paintings by Pozzo and numerous other artists give a feel of lavish and luxury which is what the royalty live by. First, I think it relates to the influence of royalty because the paintings usually consisted of images of court life and servants doing chores, which was common in the royalty life. This leads into the rise of the merchant class because it the illusion ceilings makes me think that they can’t actually afford a real glamorous domed ceiling so they hire an artist to come in and make it look like they have that. The merchant class was becoming more interested in the arts as they were steadily gaining money in the Baroque era so it was important for them to support the arts to prove that they have money.

I the reason I love this particular painting is because of all the details that are painted in it to give the appearance of an incredible palace.  I like the gold color because it reminds me of super expensive gold plated ceiling and the dome in the middle is a interesting color contrast to the rest of the colors that reflect luxury and royalty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotto_in_su

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