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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

Borromini & the Art of Illusion

22/12/2020

 
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Borromini, Forced Perspective & Palazzo Spada, Rome
The 'Forced Perspective' Gallery by Borromini, Palazzo Spada

The 16th century Palazzo Spada is home to a spectacular example of forced perspective, the creation of that genius of Baroque architecture, Francesco Borromini (1599-1667). 

Forced perspective is a technique which employs optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it actually is. 

One of the most famous examples of forced perspective was created in 1653 for Cardinal Bernardino Spada. Borromini designed a barrel-vaulted colonnade for the cardinal that looks much longer than it is (9 metres/30 feet). He achieved this illusion by making the two sides of the colonnade converge and by reducing the height of  the columns as they recede.

The wall at the end of the colonnade was originally painted with an image of a forest. However, in the mid 19th century, Prince Clemente Spada added the statue of the god Mars, which appears much larger than it actually is (60 cm/2 feet).

Borromini's wonderful architectural device is not only an amusing illusion, it also carries a moral message: the greatness of the things of the world is also just an illusion.

'Forced Perspective' Gallery by Borromini, Palazzo Spada, Rome
'Forced Perspective' Gallery

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    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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  • Home
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  • Blog
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
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      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
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    • Chapel of the Baptistery
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    • North Wall
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      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
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    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
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      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
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    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque