Illusion Collection (page 6)

Intarsia panelling depicting a cupboard with a latticework door
AII80429 Intarsia panelling depicting a cupboard with a latticework door, in the study of Federigo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (wood) by Pontelli, Baccio (c.1450-92); Palazzo Ducale, Urbino

Trompe l oeil of an open manuscript
AII86835 Trompe l oeil of an open manuscript by German School, (17th century); Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; German, out of copyright

Young Japanese Girl in the Rain, c. 1900 (hand coloured photo)
CHT170111 Young Japanese Girl in the Rain, c.1900 (hand coloured photo) by Japanese Photographer (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Exhibition of a Democratic-Transparency, with its Effect upon Patriotic Feelings
NCO189746 Exhibition of a Democratic-Transparency, with its Effect upon Patriotic Feelings, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1799 (hand-coloured etching with aquatint) by Gillray

The Illusionist and his Levitation Trick, late 19th century (colour lithograph)
CHT173555 The Illusionist and his Levitation Trick, late 19th century (colour lithograph) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Cover Illustration for The Carpathian Castle by Jules Verne
CHT449098 Cover Illustration for The Carpathian Castle by Jules Verne, published by Hetzel, 1892 (litho) by Benett, Hippolyte Leon (1839-1917); Private Collection; (add.info)

Titlepage of The Tryals of Captain John Rackham and other Pirates
PNP269033 Titlepage of The Tryals of Captain John Rackham and other Pirates, published in 1721 (litho) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Calico Jack)

Pirates capturing a ship (engraving)
PNP269029 Pirates capturing a ship (engraving) by American School, (18th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Historical Pictures; American, out of copyright

Trompe L Oeil with Rifles, Sword and Gunpowder Horn
BAL35779 Trompe L Oeil with Rifles, Sword and Gunpowder Horn by Victoria or Vitoria, Vicente (1650-1712); Private Collection; Photo eRafael Valls Gallery, London, UK; Spanish, out of copyright

Trompe L Oeil with a fowlers bird cage and whistle, 17th century
BAL35771 Trompe L Oeil with a fowlers bird cage and whistle, 17th century by Leemans, Antonius (1631-73); Private Collection; Photo eRafael Valls Gallery, London, UK; Dutch, out of copyright

Ms 134 Illuminated letter A and side border of flowers, from a Book of Hours, c
SC27772 Ms 134 Illuminated letter A and side border of flowers, from a Book of Hours, c.1500 by Flemish School, (16th century); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Flemish, out of copyright

Chinese mountebank riding a boat on land, Qing Dynasty
Chinese mountebank riding a boat on land accompanied by a musician playing a recorder, Qing Dynasty. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon

A view of Delft, 1652 (oil on canvas)
3709990 A view of Delft, 1652 (oil on canvas) by Fabritius, Carel (1622-54); 15.5x31.7 cm; National Gallery, London, UK; (add.info.: This view shows part of the Dutch town of Delft)

Playing leapfrog (litho)
2775137 Playing leapfrog (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Playing leapfrog. Phenakistoscope disc.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Japanese girls using a stereoscope viewer with stereographic cards, 1899 (photo)
3557541 Japanese girls using a stereoscope viewer with stereographic cards, 1899 (photo) by Japanese School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Still Life, Violin and Music, 1888 (oil on canvas)
3493194 Still Life, Violin and Music, 1888 (oil on canvas) by Harnett, William Michael (1848-92); 101.6x76.2 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Carl Herbert (litho)
3100974 Carl Herbert (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Carl Herbert. Page from Mahatma magazine)

Hamleys Advertisement (litho)
3100951 Hamleys Advertisement (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hamleys Advertisement)

The Happy Houdini Family (litho)
3100946 The Happy Houdini Family (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Happy Houdini Family)

Poster, Les Magique Leons, Whirlwind Illusionists
Theatre poster, Les Magique Leons, Whirlwind Illusionists in the Palace of Mystery

Photo finish compared
A page from The Illustrated London News showing a diagram by unknown photographers, comparing a single-exposure race finish to a photo finish

Constantinople in London, The Hall of A Thousand and One Pillars (engraving)
1064209 Constantinople in London, The Hall of A Thousand and One Pillars (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Constantinople in London)

Our Banner in the Sky (oil on canvas)
CH377948 Our Banner in the Sky (oil on canvas) by Church, Frederic Edwin (1826-1900); Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; American, out of copyright

Falsehood, from Piers Ploughman, by William Langland, 1873 (stained glass)
3475442 Falsehood, from Piers Ploughman, by William Langland, 1873 (stained glass) by Burrow, Harry (fl.1868-83); St Marys Church, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, UK; (add.info.: Cleobury Mortimer)

Vanitas Still Life with the Spinario, 1628 (oil on panel, h 71. 5cm -- w 80. 5
3709973 Vanitas Still Life with the Spinario, 1628 (oil on panel, h 71.5cm A-- w 80.5 by Claesz, Pieter (1597-1660); 71.5x80.5 cm; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Mahatma, The Leading Magical Paper (litho)
3100952 Mahatma, The Leading Magical Paper (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mahatma, The Leading Magical Paper)

R F Leroy, Magician and Illusionist (litho)
3100949 R F Leroy, Magician and Illusionist (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: R F Leroy, Magician and Illusionist)

Magic advertisements (litho)
3100945 Magic advertisements (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Magic advertisements)

Bank of England as a Ruin, 1830 (w / c on paper)
SJS308344 Bank of England as a Ruin, 1830 (w/c on paper) by Gandy, Joseph Michael (1771-1843); Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum, London; eSir John Soanes Museum; English

Interior of the Theatre, built 1580-85 (b / w photo)
ALI252723 Interior of the Theatre, built 1580-85 (b/w photo) by Palladio, Andrea (1508-80) & Scamozzi, Vincenzo (1552-1616); Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza

Optical flower puzzle quilt, 1854 (silk)
XBP231812 Optical flower puzzle quilt, 1854 (silk) by American School, (19th century); 158.8x181.6 cm; Private Collection; Photo eBoltin Picture Library; American, out of copyright

Title page of L Illusion Comique by Pierre Corneille (1606-84
CHT233217 Title page of L Illusion Comique by Pierre Corneille (1606-84) published in 1639 (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (17th century); Private Collection; eArchives Charmet; French

Pirates boarding a Victim Vessel (colour litho)
PNP269028 Pirates boarding a Victim Vessel (colour litho) by American School, (18th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Historical Pictures; American, out of copyright

Pirates carousing at Charleston (engraving)
PNP269022 Pirates carousing at Charleston (engraving) by American School, (17th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Historical Pictures; American, out of copyright

Pirates attempting to foil a US Navy ship by posing as an innocent merchant vessel
PNP261482 Pirates attempting to foil a US Navy ship by posing as an innocent merchant vessel (colour litho) by American School

The Enigma (litho)
PER358450 The Enigma (litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: L Enigme; ); French, out of copyright

Landscape Head (oil on canvas)
PNH352407 Landscape Head (oil on canvas) by English School, (18th century); 25.5x44.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo ePeter Nahum at The Leicester Galleries, London; English, out of copyright

Assumption of the Virgin, from the ceiling of the dome, 1526-30 (fresco)
ALI284678 Assumption of the Virgin, from the ceiling of the dome, 1526-30 (fresco) by Correggio, (Antonio Allegri) (c.1489-1534); Duomo of Parma

A transformed statue (w / c on paper)
CTS407541 A transformed statue (w/c on paper) by Jones, Inigo (1573-1652); eThe Devonshire Collections, Chatsworth; Reproduced by permission of Chatsworth Settlement Trustees; English

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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.