Illusion Collection (#16)

Sunset. Montage image of the sun setting on the horizon, creating a mirage of the sun melting at its lower edge

TRAVELERS INSURANCE TOWER. The Travelers Insurance Tower in Hartford, Connecticut seemingly surrounded by flying saucers. Viewed upside down

HARNETT: STILL LIFE, 1885. Oil on panel by William Michael Harnett, 1885

SILENT FILM STILL: DANCING. Thelma Todd and Charlie Chase

THURSTON: POSTER, 1935. American poster of magician Howard Thurston performing his levitation illusion

MARK WILSON: POSTER, 1975. American poster of magician Mark Wilsons levitation illusion

USA, Alaska, Gates of the Arctic National Preserve Northern lights (Aurora borealis) over the Endicott Mountains, Brooks Range

Conjuror entertains a crowd
Louis-Philippe, proclaimed citizen king of France at the July revolution of 1830, is shown as a street conjuror, entertaining the crowds. HPG/8/2/1 (xi)

Magician performing the cup and balls trick in front of a se
Undated illustration of a magician performing the cup and balls trick in front of a seated audience, entitled " Champy dit Connus". HPG/8/2/1 (xxxi)"

Thaumaturgick exhibitions, optical illusions and deceptions
Playbill for performance of " thaumaturgick exhibitions, optical illusions and magical deceptions" by Mr Boaz at the Kings Arms, High Street

Magician performing the cup and balls trick to a small crowd
Undated illustration of magician performing the cup and balls trick to a small crowd, entitled " Rien dan les mains rien dans les peches je ne vous trompe pas mais..." (a Paris chez Albert)

Magician performing the cup and balls trick to an assembled
Undated illustration of magician performing the cup and balls trick to an assembled crowd, entitled " Le Joueur de Gobelets". HPG/8/2/1 (xxxvi)"

Playbill for Maskelyne & Cooke magical variety show
Playbill for performances of the show The Novelty of the Age, featuring magicians Maskelyne and Cooke, held at Berkley Castle, Blackpool, January 1870

Indian Rope Trick Poster
Undated coloured poster featuring illustration of Thurston, the famous magician, performing the East Indian rope-trick. HPF/5B/17

Great Wizard of the North Performing his Celebrated Tricks
Undated copy of engraving, " The Great Wizard of the North Performing his Celebrated Trick of Pouring Four Different Liquids From One Bottle". HPG/8/2/1 (vi)"

Mr Maskelynes experiment - female spirit emerging from man
A photographic example of Mr Maskelynes experiment - a mechanical illusion of spiritual manifestations. Miss Cassie Brucea can be seen emerging from her father-in-laws body

Untouchable Flowers
This optical trick gives the illusion of a vase of flowers, thanks to projection from a mirror

Wife and Mother-In-Law
An early example of the classic trick image depicting both a pretty young woman and a less attractive older lady in one picture

Moss Photographs H Price
A spirit photograph of Harry Price taken by George Moss who subsequently confessed to creating fake pictures (such as this one)

Flying Objects
How a fraudulent medium creates the illusion that the spirits are causing objects to fly round the seance room

Toby Allen / SpecialistStock
ICC World Twenty20 group match between England and Pakistan at the Oval on June 7th 2009 in London, England. (England are in the field, India batting) Little London

Toby Allen / SpecialistStock
The worst snow for 18 years hits London bringing the city to a standstill. Little London

Rainbow above the Pampas and highway, Argentina, South America

Anthelion, Svalbard Islands, Arctic, Norway, Europe

A rainbow appears looking east across the granite mountains of the Andringitra National Park, as a squall of rain blows in from the Indian Ocean, Southern Madagascar, Africa

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Eruption of Castle Geyser with rainbow in the spray, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, North America

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Eruption of Castle Geyser with rainbow in the spray, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, North America

East Mitten and Merrick Buttes, Monument Valley, Arizona, USA, North America

Harris, Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Rainbow near Kilcash Castle, County Tipperary, Munster, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Ballynakill Harbour, Connemara, County Galway, Connacht, Eire (Republic of Ireland), Europe

The cathedral and El Triunfo, Plaza de Armas, Cuzco, Peru, South America

Rainbow over the colourful fishing village of Hamnoy, Moskenesoya, Lofoten Islands, Nordland, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

Rainbow and storm approaching, Christian Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, with Two Thumb Range beyond, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Oryx, gemsbok, Oryx gazella, Etosha National Park, Namibia, Africa

Odaiba, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo, Japan

Sanctuary of Ratu Kidul (queen of the seas of the south), Parang-Tritis beach, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Vatnajokull glacier, Skaftafell National Park, South coast, Iceland, Polar Regions

Seljalandsfoss waterfall in the south of the island, Iceland

Seljalandsfoss waterfall and rainbow, southern area, Iceland, Polar Regions

Seljalandsfoss, Iceland, Polar Regions

Man takes a bath in waterfall, Los Chorros Falls, Poas Valley, Costa Rica, Central America

Victoria Harbour, night view of skyscrapers in Central district of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Rainbow over the town of Puerto Natales, Chile, South America

Waterfall and rainbow, Salta del Laja, Chile, South America

Iguacu Falls, Brazil, South America

Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

DIORAMA
At its simplest, the diorama consists of one or more pictures wound on a spool which is turned to give the spectators the illusion of passing through a landscape

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"Unveiling the Illusion: From Blossom to Decay, a Journey of Perception" Step into the world where reality and imagination intertwine. In London, England, UK, Banksy's thought-provoking street art challenges our perception of society. Meanwhile, at Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa, nature paints an enchanting picture with waterfalls and rainbows that seem almost too perfect to be real. Delve deeper into the realm of illusions with Co's "Trompe l'oeil, " a masterpiece from 1670 that tricks our eyes into believing we are looking at something entirely different. Travel back in time to 1863 when French illusionist Henri Robin captured a ghostly apparition in a spirit photograph by Eugène Thiébault. Experience the Pepper's Ghost Illusion where specters seemingly materialize before your eyes. Marvel at Penrose stairs artwork that defies logic and challenges our understanding of space and perspective. Witness the breathtaking sight of a rainbow over Uig Sands (Traigh Chapadail) or Iceland's majestic Gullfoss waterfall cascading down steep canyons. But illusions aren't limited to visual arts alone; they also grace theatrical performances like Bald Prima Donna from the 20th century – an absurd yet captivating play that blurs reality and fiction seamlessly. And let us not forget about impossible shapes like the Impossible Triangle artwork or Icelands most famous waterfall Gullfoss tumbling down endlessly in its mesmerizing beauty. In this world filled with illusions, we question what is real and what is merely smoke and mirrors. It reminds us that sometimes things are not as they seem – whether it be fleeting blossoms turning into decay or ghosts haunting photographs. So embrace these moments of wonderment as you navigate through life's intricate web of illusionary delights.