Illusion Collection (#7)

The Mirage in the Desert (engraving) (b / w photo)
STC168903 The Mirage in the Desert (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Phenakisticope with a cherub design card, 1835 (photo)
CHT175004 The Phenakisticope with a cherub design card, 1835 (photo) by Chevalier, Charles (fl.1835); CNAM, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers

Wallpaper design, from Relais, published in 1930 (colour litho)
CHT360213 Wallpaper design, from Relais, published in 1930 (colour litho) by Benedictus, Edouard (1878-1930); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

Trompe l oeil oculus in the centre of the vaulted ceiling of the Camera Picta or
BEN72245 Trompe l oeil oculus in the centre of the vaulted ceiling of the Camera Picta or Camera degli Sposi, 1465-74 (fresco) (for detail see 78525) by Mantegna

Mardi Gras, after an engraving by Joachim von Sandrart (1606-88) (oil on canvas)
RAF145038 Mardi Gras, after an engraving by Joachim von Sandrart (1606-88) (oil on canvas) by Gresely, Gaspard, or Gabriel (1712-56); 33.5x24.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eRafael Valls Gallery

T Nelson Downs, King of Koins (litho)
5236396 T Nelson Downs, King of Koins (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: T Nelson Downs, King of Koins)

Chapeaugraphy, The Salvationist, Shadowgraphy, The Tight Rope Walker (litho)
5236361 Chapeaugraphy, The Salvationist, Shadowgraphy, The Tight Rope Walker (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chapeaugraphy, The Salvationist, Shadowgraphy)

Carl Herrmann Of Berlin (litho)
5238971 Carl Herrmann Of Berlin (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Carl Herrmann Of Berlin)

The sand frame trick (litho)
5238925 The sand frame trick (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The sand frame trick)

The cat (litho)
5238924 The cat (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The cat. Page from Mahatma magazine, September 1895.); Look and Learn / Rosenberg Collection; American

Mr John Henricks, Wizard of the Atlantic (litho)
5238837 Mr John Henricks, Wizard of the Atlantic (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mr John Henricks, Wizard of the Atlantic)

The Boy And The Rope, Hewes, The White Yogi (litho)
5238816 The Boy And The Rope, Hewes, The White Yogi (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Boy And The Rope, Hewes, The White Yogi)

Methods Of Exhibiting Trick (litho)
5236380 Methods Of Exhibiting Trick (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Methods Of Exhibiting Trick)

Vase of Flowers in a Window, c. 1618 (oil on panel)
5672023 Vase of Flowers in a Window, c.1618 (oil on panel) by Bosschaert, Ambrosius the Elder (1573-1621); 64x46 cm; Mauritshuis, The Hague, The Netherlands; Flemish, out of copyright

A Magnified Hare (engraving)
3627768 A Magnified Hare (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Magnified Hare. Illustration for The Picture Magazine, 1893.); © Look and Learn

The Spectre, an optical illusion (engraving)
3628872 The Spectre, an optical illusion (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Spectre, an optical illusion)

A trompe-l oeil letter rack, with an engraving of King Charles II, a newspaper
3500163 A trompe-l oeil letter rack, with an engraving of King Charles II, a newspaper, a quill, a pen and a penknife (oil on canvas) by Colyer or Collier

Albert E Smith, The Popular Lyceum Prestidigitateur (litho)
3100947 Albert E Smith, The Popular Lyceum Prestidigitateur (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Albert E Smith, The Popular Lyceum Prestidigitateur)

Magic advertisements (litho)
3100943 Magic advertisements (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Magic advertisements)

David Tennant and his spirit wife (b / w photo)
3100939 David Tennant and his spirit wife (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: David Tennant and his spirit wife)

The Study of Federigo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino: intarsia panelling depicting (L
AII80431 The Study of Federigo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino: intarsia panelling depicting (L) an open cupboard of books and (R)

Silenus and the Young Satyr, East Wall, Oecus 5, 60-50 BC (fresco) (see 57188 for detail)
XIR55068 Silenus and the Young Satyr, East Wall, Oecus 5, 60-50 BC (fresco) (see 57188 for detail) by Roman, (1st century BC); Villa dei Misteri, Pompeii

Portrait of the 5th Duke of Rutland, Ceiling of the Elizabeth Saloon (fresco)
465904 Portrait of the 5th Duke of Rutland, Ceiling of the Elizabeth Saloon (fresco) by Wyatt, Matthew Cotes (1777-1862); Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, UK; (add.info.: John Henry Manners)

Pirate Marooned on a Desert Isle, 1887 (litho)
PNP269021 Pirate Marooned on a Desert Isle, 1887 (litho) by Pyle, Howard (1853-1911) (after); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures; American, out of copyright

Humorous mug decorated with invertible heads of a man and woman, c. 1780 (creamware)
HMP250957 Humorous mug decorated with invertible heads of a man and woman, c.1780 (creamware) by English School, (18th century); Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Lancashire

Dummy window in the entrance facade with a figure of a woman looking out
PWI94669 Dummy window in the entrance facade with a figure of a woman looking out, possibly the wife of Jacques Coeur, 1443-51 (photo) by French School, (15th century); Palais de Jacques-Coeur

David and Bathsheba
FTB60805 David and Bathsheba by Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista (Giambattista) (1696-1770); Gallerie dell Accademia, Venice, Italy; Italian, out of copyright

Professor Harry Kellars new residence at Ludlow (litho)
5238926 Professor Harry Kellars new residence at Ludlow (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Professor Harry Kellars new residence at Ludlow)

F Robert Lanskail (litho)
5238853 F Robert Lanskail (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: F Robert Lanskail. Page from Mahatma magazine)

C Milton Chase (litho)
5238834 C Milton Chase (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: C Milton Chase. Page from Mahatma magazine)

Juggling and balancing with difficult objects (litho)
5992302 Juggling and balancing with difficult objects (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Juggling and balancing with difficult objects, a to f)

Map of the New Island of Utopia from a 1518 edition of Utopia
5615727 Map of the New Island of Utopia from a 1518 edition of Utopia by Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), first published in 1516. Woodcut by Ambrosius Holbein (c. 1494-c)

Stevenson (litho)
5236374 Stevenson (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Stevenson. Page from Mahatma magazine, September 1898.); Look and Learn / Rosenberg Collection; American

Adrian Plate (litho)
5236368 Adrian Plate (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Adrian Plate. Page from Mahatma magazine)

M H Everett, Boomskie, Advertisements (litho)
5236366 M H Everett, Boomskie, Advertisements (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: M H Everett, Boomskie, Advertisements)

A New Star, Frederick Bancroft (litho)
5236359 A New Star, Frederick Bancroft (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A New Star, Frederick Bancroft)

An Optical Illusion (litho)
5236356 An Optical Illusion (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Optical Illusion)

W D Le Roy (litho)
5236355 W D Le Roy (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: W D Le Roy. Page from Mahatma magazine, July 1895.); Look and Learn / Rosenberg Collection; American

Teaching A Dog New Tricks, Charles L Burlingame (litho)
5238850 Teaching A Dog New Tricks, Charles L Burlingame (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Teaching A Dog New Tricks, Charles L Burlingame)

The Bewitched Organ, The Magic Supper, Chapeaugraphy (litho)
5236352 The Bewitched Organ, The Magic Supper, Chapeaugraphy (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Bewitched Organ, The Magic Supper, Chapeaugraphy)

The invisible couple (colour litho)
3096433 The invisible couple (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The invisible couple)

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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.