The relationship between real and illusory architecture: Survey and analysis of the ex-refectory of orsoline’s convent in Rome

Abstract

The subject of this work is the study of perspective scenes frescoed in the ex-refectory of an important cloister in the center of Rome, with the aim of understanding the relationship between real and illusory space through a combination of architectural survey techniques. This study concerns architectural representation, and it focuses on the Quadratura issue: an illusory architecture painting where perspective creates the illusion of spatial depth on a flat surface. All the walls depict perspective scenes of religious subjects, attributed to Andrea Pozzo and his school, and unfortunately the interior morphology has changed from the original, not permitting the correct perception.