Art Tour
Trompe L'oeil at Portmeirion
Trompe L'oeil (French for 'fool the eye') is a form of art that gives an illusion of photographic reality, making things seem real which are not. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis used trompe l'oeil frequently in his design of Portmeirion, and it is fun to identify them. It is really not surprising that he did this. Portmeirion has often been compared to Portofino in its coloring and architectural style, and Sir Clough had visited Italy enough to know of its penchant for using trompe l'oeil as part of its charm, making fake balconies and gardens, etc.
|
|
Five trompe l'oeil windows surround the open doorway of the Gloriette. Two side statues are actually two-dimensional cut-outs. |
|
This trompe l'oeil 'gargoyle' in the 'window' is startling to encounter. He is located at the top of Government House, on the estuary side and is not visible to day visitors. |
|
|
|
Although Chantry Row appears to be line of four two-storey cottages, the upper windows are actually fake painted ones, and it consists of only two hotel suites. |
|
The distinctive 'onion dome' facade at the north end of the row is hiding a boiler chimney. |
 |
|
This picture of Salutation (Ship Shop) shows the mural recently restored by artist Nigel Simmons, which includes a trompe l'oeil window in the center. The painted window is almost indistinguishable from the real windows on either side of it. |
|
|
Close-up of the trompe l'oeil window. It even shows the projected reflection of being able to see through the building and out the window on the other side to the carpark. |
 |
