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ARTISTIC TRICKERY by Michael Capek

ARTISTIC TRICKERY

The Tradition of Trompe L'Oeil Art

by Michael Capek

Pub Date: May 3rd, 1995
ISBN: 0-8225-2064-8
Publisher: Lerner

A sturdy exploration. Discussing the tricks that create convincing illusions, from choice of subject to the laws of perspective, Capek leads his readers on a tour of illusionist art. Of the 48 full-color reproductions in the book, about half are by contemporary artists, a fourth by 19th-century American painters, and the rest are from around the world and various centuries. These pictures are a treat, even though they are scaled rather small. The text is a mixed bag, full of curious facts and anecdotes, and contains five pieces—one on mosaics, three on individual artists, and another on the Peale family. But the book is organized according to the different subjects of trompe l'oeil painting and doesn't go anywhere; it is sometimes repetitive, and has the flatness of an encyclopedia article. Readers will appreciate the optical effects, and the glossary and index make this useful for research. (Nonfiction. 10+)